THE country needs an estimated P6.5 billion to help the 3.64 million stunted children six months to three years old.

This is according to the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DoST-FNRI), which has been implementing the Malnutrition Reduction Program (MRP) since 2011, a science-based nutrition strategy that helps address the high prevalence of underweight infants and young Filipino, in partnership with the local government units, national government agencies and the private sector.