BY KIRSON CASTANOS, ERMARD AYOC & JOHN DABLO | DSSC Interns
WHILE Davao Region is seeing a gradual downward trend in malnutrition among children under five, health authorities are sounding the alarm for Davao Occidental, which continues to record the highest prevalence of undernutrition.
The latest data from the 2025 Electronic Operation Timbang (eOPT) Plus results, released during the press conference launch of the 52nd Nutrition Month, revealed that overall malnutrition rates among children aged 0 to 59 months have shown marginal improvements:
- Stunting (Chronically Malnourished): Decreased to 5.1% in 2025, down from 5.8% in 2024 and 5.2% in 2023.
- Wasting (Acutely Malnourished): Decreased to 2.6% in 2025, down from 2.9% in 2024 and 2.8% in 2023.
- Underweight: Settled at 1.4% in 2025, down from 1.5% in 2024 (returning to the 1.4% recorded in 2023).
- Overweight & Obesity: Remained stable at 0.7% in 2025 and 2024, down slightly from 0.8% in 2023.
Meanwhile, Davao Occidental consistently leads all regional categories in malnutrition prevalence:
- Stunting (Most Critical): Affects 12.9% of children (3,228 actual cases)—more than double the regional average of 5.1%.
- Underweight: Stands at 6.5% (1,621 cases), vastly exceeding the regional average of 1.4%.
- Wasting: Recorded at 3.09% (775 cases) compared to the regional average of 2.6%.
- Overweight & Obesity: Registers at 2.7% (677 cases), significantly higher than the regional average of 0.7%.
At the municipal level, the coastal town of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, logged the highest prevalence of stunting (24.21%), underweight (14.45%), and overweight/obesity (4.34%) region-wide. Meanwhile, neighboring Jose Abad Santos registered the region’s highest wasting rate at 6.36%.
During the press launch, Retsebeth Laquihon, National Nutrition Council XI regional program coordinator, said traditional nutrition programs are inadequate.
Laquihon warned that climate change directly threatens local food supplies by disrupting farming and fishing. This instability severely impacts vulnerable, isolated coastal and agricultural municipalities, such as those in Davao Occidental.
NNC XI advocates for promoting eco-friendly nutrition by prioritizing balanced, sustainable diets guided by the “Pinggang Pinoy” and “10 Kumainments.” The effort is paired with a call to support local, sustainable food systems by purchasing seasonal, locally grown produce, which simultaneously aids local farmers and reduces the carbon footprint of food transport.
Furthermore, the agency encourages communities to build backyard, school, and barangay-level vegetable gardens to secure direct access to fresh food, while strongly emphasizing the need to prioritize the first 1,000 days of life to protect infants from long-term developmental damage through exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by nutritious complementary feeding.
NNC XI continues to rally LGUs, regional agencies, and private partners to align their programs with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN), ensuring sustainable, healthy food is accessible to every family in Davao Region.
