The province of Masbate is part of the Bicol region and is known for being one of the most disadvantaged provinces in the Philippines with a poverty rate of 44.2% (NSCB 2012). As in the rest of the Philippines, the province is located on a Typhoon Belt in the Pacific often hit by moderate-intensity typhoons that, by default, makes it susceptible to impacts on subsistence agriculture and fishing due to rising water, storm surges, floods, and drought.

Infant under nutrition is still the biggest public health problem in the Bicol region with rates of 24.6% children being underweight, and the severe and chronic malnutrition rates being 39.8% and 7.4% respectively (NNS 2013). 

Being new to this region, AAH carried out a Link NCA in order to collect information about the reasons behind under nourishment and, as a result, be in a position to be able to fight against the root causes.

This analysis has identified the following major risks:

Defecation out in the open,

Inadequate sanitation,

Detrimental management of solid and liquid waste,

Limited access to drinking water,

Low income due to unstable sources of income and income-generating activities,

Poor agricultural production and fishery workers,

Limited access to food,

Undiversified diet.

Please refer to full report for more information.