Metro Naga forms coalition on anti-stunting, literacy

MANILA, Philippines — A joint resolution creating the Metro Naga Coalition on Anti-Stunting and Literacy was signed by 18 local government units (LGUs) and key partners in Naga City on Thursday, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education.

EDCOM 2 executive director Karol Mark Yee said children are falling behind early because of weak foundations.

Yee said fixing reading scores cannot be done without addressing stunting first.

Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo led the signing of the resolution during the Quarterly Mayors’ Council Meeting of the Metro Naga Development Council.

“With Camarines Sur facing both elevated stunting and highest number of struggling readers nationwide, Metro Naga’s coalition is showing how local leaders can break down silos, pool resources and act where the need is greatest,” Yee said.

She said member-LGUs would convene higher educational institutions such as the Ateneo de Naga and the University of Nueva Caceres as well as church partners, government agencies, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to align existing programs, expertise and resources around common outcomes for children.

Yee said the initiative reflects EDCOM 2’s call to fix the foundations of education by prioritizing the early years – when nutrition, early childhood development and foundational skills are established.

The coalition will enable LGUs in Metro Naga to work collectively in building capacity, sharing resources and tracking progress.

Member-LGUs can translate shared data and challenges into coordinated actions to provide every child a healthier start, access to quality early learning and the foundational skills needed to read at grade levels.