Reflecting on the Stories of the Past and Discoveries of Today in Transforming Public Health Nutrition in the Philippines: Proceedings of the Golden Anniversary of the Department of Nutrition, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, 4 December 2024, Philippines

Malnutrition remains a pressing public health concern in the Philippines and the Western Pacific Region. Despite the presence of several nutrition-specific, nutrition-sensitive, and enabling programs, there are still challenges in their delivery and implementation. As the only academic institution in the country specializing in Public Health Nutrition, the UP College of Public Health (UP CPH), Department of Nutrition commemorated its 50th anniversary on December 4, 2024 with the theme “50 Years in Focus: Learning from the Past and Discoveries of Today in Transforming Public Health Nutrition in the Philippines”. This program highlighted past achievements and served as a platform for discourse on present and emerging nutrition concerns. This proceedings provides the highlights of the event and the discussion that transpired in terms of the following areas: (1) Public Health Nutrition in the Philippines in the SDG era; (2) Current State of PHN Research and Education in the Philippines; (3) Role of Non-government Organizations in achieving Nutrition Development in the Philippines; and (4) Successes and Challenges of the First 1000 Days and Early Childhood Care and Development in the Philippines. The current landscape of nutrition in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) era is marked by a complex burden, with persistent undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency in marginalized populations and high overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. Addressing the issue calls for a collaborative, multisectoral approach that includes government, academic institutions, and civil society. From the education and research perspective, there is a need to equip nutritionists-dietitians with research capacities, and to provide them with an enabling environment to pursue research. Given these circumstances, there is a greater call for the unit to pioneer and increase its reach to serve as a leader in public health nutrition research and education by empowering professionals and institutions to specialize in this vital field.