The panel discussion at the 50TH Philippine Business and Conference Expo organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on October 23, 2024, at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, centered on the theme "Human Capital Development: An Investment in the Future". Moderated by Atty. Benedicta "Dick" Du-Baladad, Founder and CEO of BDB Law, the event featured distinguished panelists, including Ms. Dandan Chen, Operations Manager at the World Bank-Philippines; Atty. Baldr Bringas, Assistant Secretary for Innovations from the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Sec. Sonny Angara from the Department of Education; and Dir. Rederick M. Napulan from the Department of Health.
Atty. Dick emphasized that while school feeding programs address hunger, they fall short of tackling stunting, a critical issue linked to long-term health and development. She called for a unified, cross-departmental approach, urging collaboration among agencies like the DOH and DSWD to combat malnutrition more effectively.
In a powerful call to action, Atty. Dick proposed creating a Human Capital Development Cluster led by a "super-secretary" to oversee initiatives addressing stunting and malnutrition, underscoring the importance of a national commitment to our future.
