League of Corporate Foundations launches LIFE initiative to target child wasting and stunting in the PH

L-R: Edric Calma, LCF Board Trustee and Vice President, Knowledge Channel Foundation; Shem Jose Garcia, LCF Vice Chairperson and Executive Director, Vivant Foundation; Elena Van Tooren, Managing Director, East West Seed Foundation; Dyan Tee, Assistant Executive Director, Metrobank Foundation; Myn Garcia, Deputy Country Representative, Asia Foundation; Jose Gabriel Dimalanta, Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network Secretariat (SUN Network); Joanna La O, Director for Strategy and Program Innovation, Jollibee Group Foundation; Ramon Derige, LCF Board Treasurer and Executive Director, SEAOIL Foundation; Hon. Jim S. Hataman-Salliman, Governor, Province of Basilan; Angie Sapitula-Evidente, Lead Manager, HAPAGASA Program, Assisi Foundation; Enrique O. Canoy, Corporate Communications Head, RMN Networks; Rina Lopez-Bautista, President and Executive Director, Knowledge Channel Foundation; Sebastian C. Quiniones, Jr., LCF Chairperson and Executive Director, Pilipinas Shell Foundation; Austere Panadero, LCF Board Trustee and President, Zuellig Family Foundation; Patrick Aurelio, CSR Officer, RMN Foundation; Suyin Lui Lee, Philippines Country Representative, Asian Philanthropy Circle; Antonio Lambino, President, Ayala Foundation.

The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) has announced the LIFE initiative, which stands for LCF's Intervention for Food Security, Nutrition, and Empowerment, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of National Nutrition Month in the Philippines. The LIFE launch will take place on Friday, July 5, 2024, at the CSR Expo at the Glorietta Activity Center, Glorietta Mall, Makati City.

The League of Corporate Foundations' principal initiative through 2024 and beyond is called LIFE. The LIFE initiative aims to stop stunting and wasting throughout the League.  If these issues are not resolved, stunting may have serious and long-lasting effects on the affected children as well as on Philippine society at large. LIFE is based on the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) and seeks to reduce, if not completely eradicate, malnutrition, wasting, and stunting, one province at of time.

One of the League's initial areas of concentration is the Province of Basilan. To deliver the program to the Basilan people, it will collaborate with the provincial government and other relevant organizations. Hon. was present at the launch. Jim S. Hataman-Salliman, the Basilan Province's governor.

Twenty-six percent of Filipino children under five suffer from stunting. Children with disabilities may find it difficult to learn, frequently perform poorly in school, and miss a lot of days because of illness. Because of the irreversible nature of the condition, adults who were stunted as children may not be as healthy, productive, or make as much money as adults who were not. Poor nutrition causes stunting in both young children and expectant mothers. This includes deficiency in the intake of essential micronutrients like iron and vitamin A. 

LIFE includes nutrition-sensitive interventions like a "Greenlihood Program" (providing vegetable seedlings to target FK1D groups) and WASH interventions; nutrition-specific interventions like supplemental feeding, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition promotion for behavior change, and nutrition during emergency situations; and enabling mechanisms like the creation of a nutrition office that will carry out pertinent activities like conducting nutrition trainings.

“Concerned members of the League are working to collaborate on LIFE. We also endeavor to identify, reach out to, and work with other like-minded groups, corporates and government organizations, individuals and civil society groups.“ ~Sebastian C. Quiniones, LCF Board Chairperson and Executive Director, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. 

As part of the celebration of National CSR Week in the Philippines, the LIFE launch was held concurrently with the first-ever Medal of Recognition launch, which honors exceptional CSR initiatives carried out by organizations outside of LCF. Presidential Proclamation No. 299, s. mandates that LCF spearhead the celebration of National CSR Week during the first week of July. 2000, among other things, by planning the annual CSR Conference and Expo.

For more information please visit the LIFE microsite at bit.ly/lcflife, or contact Celine A. Santillan, LCF Executive Director, at execdirlcf@gmail.com.