stunting

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.

LOCAL government units in Davao Region are called to scale up interventions for children’s first 1,000 days to combat stunting and malnutrition.

Alona Teo, National Nutrition Council XI officer, said the first stages of the child’s life are critical since the impacts of stunting could no longer be reversed.

“Malaking bagay ang promotion sa first 1,000 days. As we know, stunting is a nutritional status nga irreversible,” Teo said during the Kapihan sa Dabaw on Monday, July 7.

She stressed that when the child reaches the age of two, the damage is hard to reverse.

The data from NNC showed a high prevalence of stunting in Davao Region according to the World Health Organization’s Public Health Significance.

Under the Top 10 LGUs in the region with highest prevalence rates of sever stunting (0-59 months old), Sarangani municipality under Davao Occidental had a prevalence rate of 24.21%, while Jose Abad Santos (JAS) of the same province placed second with 21.49%.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Laak in Davao de Oro placed third with 15.22%; Talaingod, Davao del Norte was 4th with 14.28; and Don Marcelino of Davao Occidental was fifth with 13.76%.

On the other hand, the municipality of New Bataan in Davao de Oro was 6th with 8.81%; Santa Maria, Davao del Sur was 7th with 8.55%; Padada of the same province was 8th with 8.48%.

San Isidro, Davao del Norte placed 9th and reported a prevalence rate of 7.73%; while Maragusan placed 10th with 7.27%.

Teo said several municipalities fail to formulate their own Local Nutrition Action Plan (LNAP) and local investment plans that align with the Philippine Plan Action on Nutrition.

“Yan ang pinagsusumikapan natin na lahat ng LGUs magkaroon ng kanilang local nutrition action plan supported with the policies,” she stressed.

Last June, Teo said the JAS local government underwent training for the formulation of the LNAP, as previously the LGU had no existing plan.

“We wanted every municipality from Davao Oriental to have LNAP, so we prioritized them, hopefully this becomes their way to combat malnutrition problem,” she said.

The officer reported that the JAS lgu is awaiting finalization with the signature of the mayor pending approving and adapting the plan.

Teo emphasized that the formulation of the plan is critical for more strategic actions and at the same time budget allocation of their targeted programs and interventions.

NNC XI urges stronger LGU action as Davao Occidental tops region’s malnutrition toll

LGUs told to scale up interventions for children’s 1st 1,000 days