CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (June 19) — For years, health workers and educators have celebrated gradual progress in reducing child malnutrition in the Philippines. But new government data show that the trend has reversed, raising concerns about the future of millions of Filipino children.
According to the latest nutrition survey by the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), child stunting climbed to 25.3 percent in 2025. This means that one in every four Filipino children under five years old is not growing properly because of long-term lack of adequate nutrition.
The increase marks the first significant rise in stunting after more than a decade of improvement.
For many families, the numbers reflect a daily struggle that has become increasingly difficult amid rising food costs and economic uncertainty.
More Than Just Height
Health experts explain that stunting is not simply about being shorter than other children.
Children who suffer from chronic malnutrition often experience delays in brain development, learning difficulties, and long-term health problems. The effects can last a lifetime, affecting school performance, employment opportunities, and future earnings.
The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) warned that the rise in stunting could further worsen the country’s learning crisis.
“The increase in stunting after a decade of decline should serve as a wake-up call for all of us,” said EDCOM 2 co-chair and House Basic Education Committee chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo.
Education advocates note that many children enter school already disadvantaged because they did not receive proper nutrition during their earliest years.
Mindanao Among Hardest Hit
The burden of child malnutrition is not shared equally across the country.
The highest stunting rates were recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where 36 percent of children under five are stunted. The Zamboanga Peninsula followed at 34 percent, while the Negros Island Region and MIMAROPA recorded 31 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
The findings show that children in rural communities remain more vulnerable than those in urban areas, with stunting affecting 28 percent of rural children compared to 23 percent in cities.
For many communities in Mindanao, the figures reflect longstanding challenges linked to poverty, limited access to health services, food insecurity, and displacement caused by conflict and disasters.
Families Borrowing Just to Eat
Perhaps one of the most troubling findings of the survey is the growing number of families struggling to secure enough food.
About one-third of Filipinos experience moderate to severe food insecurity. Among affected households, nearly seven out of ten borrow money from relatives to buy food, while many rely on credit from neighborhood sari-sari stores.
For low-income families, putting food on the table has become a balancing act between debt and survival.
Nutrition advocates warn that when families are forced to stretch limited budgets, children often miss out on the nutritious foods needed for healthy growth and development.
The Problem Starts Before Birth
The survey also found that 17 percent of pregnant women are nutritionally at risk.
Poor maternal nutrition can lead to low birth weight and developmental problems that increase the likelihood of stunting later in childhood.
Health experts stress that addressing child malnutrition requires support not only for young children but also for mothers during pregnancy and the first years of a child’s life.
A Community Responsibility
The rise in child stunting serves as a reminder that nutrition is not only a health issue but also a community concern.
Local governments, schools, health centers, churches, civil society groups, and families all play a role in ensuring that children receive adequate food, healthcare, and opportunities to grow.
Behind every percentage point in the survey are real children whose futures may be affected by hunger and poor nutrition.
As communities work to recover from economic hardships and recent disasters, many advocates hope the findings will prompt stronger action to ensure that no child is left behind simply because there is not enough food on the family table.
