The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) granted clearance to the conduct of the 2020 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) on 22 January 2020. The 2020 ENNS is the last phase of the three-year project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

The survey aims to provide empirical data on the nutritional and health status of Filipinos for planning nutrition and development programs, and for timely policy decisions at the national and subnational levels. Specifically, the objectives of the survey are the following:

• Assess the physical growth and dimensions of children and other population groups using anthropometric indicators
• Assess the nutritional biomarkers of children and other population groups (e.g., hemoglobin, serum retinol, urinary iodine excretion, etc.)
• Determine the following:
  • prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors of 10 years old and above (e.g., behavioral and physiologic risk factors);
  • energy and nutrient intake at the household and individual levels;
  • the magnitude of food insecurity and coping mechanisms among households;
  • the participation of household and individuals in selected health and nutrition related programs;
  • feeding practices of infants and young children, 0-23 months;
  • maternal nutrition and health status among mothers with 0-36 month old children and pregnant women.
• Monitor/track progress of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designated to FNRI as the data source

a. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
b. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well Being)

• Describe the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of households and individuals
• Evaluate association of different risk factors to nutrition and health status.

The ENNS will provide data on household and per capita food consumption as well as basis for regional menus, poverty calculation, Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI), Desirable Dietary Patterns, and food production targets. Results from the survey will also be used as premise for policy decisions/directions and specifically serve as inputs to the following national plans and programs:

• Medium Term Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (MTPPAN)
• Philippine Development Plan
• Poverty alleviation programs
• Food fortification and supplementation programs
• Philippine Coalition for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases

Some of the results from the 2018 ENNS are as follows:

• There were decreases in the prevalences of underweight, stunting, and wasting among children, under five years old (0-59 months) from 2015 to 2018, i.e., the differences in the indicators were 3.1 percentage points, 2.4 percentage points, and 1.5 percentage points, respectively. On the other hand, there was a slight increase noted in the prevalence of overweight-for-height children, i.e. from 3.9 percent in 2015 to 4.0 percent in 2018.
• Among Filipino adolescents with ages greater than 10 to 19 years old in 2018, 26.3 percent were found to be stunted, 11.3 percent were wasted, and 11.6 percent were overweight and obese.
• Food security was higher among households that were: from the urban areas, not engaged in agriculture, from richest wealth quintile, receiving financial assistance from other household members working abroad, headed by females, with less than five (5) members, and whose household heads have at least college education.

The survey will utilize a total budget of Php 313.8 million to cover expenses for personal services and maintenance and other operating expenses.

Data collection will run from January to December 2020 and the results of the survey are expected to be released in 2021.
The survey was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10625 to:

• ensure sound design for data collection;
• minimize the burden placed upon respondents;
• effect economy in statistical data collection;
• eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and
• achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

On 09 May 2018, the PSA Board issued PSA Board Resolution No. 06, s. 2018 (Approving and Adopting the Survey Design of the Expanded National Nutrition Survey) approving the methodology of the conduct of the ENNS. In line with this, the public are enjoined to support the said statistical activity. Further, the PSA is only mandated to review and clear the survey materials through the SSRCS.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division (SSD) of the Standards Service (SS) with telephone numbers
(02) 8376-1928 and (02) 8376-1931, and email address: ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph or ssdss.staff@gmail.com.

CLAIRE DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General
 

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.