ILOILO – Child malnutrition in Iloilo Province has steadily declined over the past five years, with provincial health officials attributing the sustained improvement to nutrition and food security programs, as well as coordinated interventions implemented across all local government units.
Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed that from 2021 to 2025, the prevalence of all major forms of malnutrition among children aged zero to 59 months — including underweight, wasting, stunting, and overweight — consistently decreased, marking one of the province’s strongest public health gains in recent years.
Based on the 2025 Provincial Nutrition Status Report, underweight prevalence dropped to 2.01 percent (2,966 children) from 2.98 percent in 2021.
Wasting declined to 0.68 percent (1,012 children) from 1.58 percent, while stunting fell to 3.86 percent (5,710 children) from 7.46 percent.
Overweight prevalence also decreased to 1.86 percent (2,749 children) from 3.15 percent.
The figures were generated through the annual Operation Timbang Plus (OPT), which covered 147,794 children, or 77.9 percent of the province’s target population in 2025.
“Naga-nami ang nutrition status sang aton mga kabataan kag even our school-aged children. Naganubo ang aton prevalence sa stunting and wasting,” said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
Quiñon credited municipalities with the lowest malnutrition rates for helping drive the province’s overall improvement. Guimbal (0.21% or four children), Tigbauan (0.21% or 12 children), Miag-ao (0.60% or 37 children), Oton (0.72% or 57 children), and Dingle (1.09% or 33 children) recorded the lowest stunting rates.
On the other hand, Guimbal (zero), Tigbauan (0.02% or one children), Batad (0.05% or one children), Mina (0.06% or one children), and Banate (0.08% or two children) posted the lowest wasting rates.
Stunting results from chronic undernutrition and can permanently affect a child’s physical and cognitive development, while wasting reflects recent severe weight loss caused by inadequate nutrition or prolonged illness.
Quiñon said one of the biggest contributors to the province’s gains was the provincial government’s “SiPag at TiyaGa for MoRProGRes sa Bagong Pilipinas” convergence program launched by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Under the initiative, more than P20 million was allocated to subsidize P20-per-kilogram rice for 6,816 families with undernourished children.
Another program, funded through the Local Government Support Fund, will provide 10 kilograms of free rice every month for six months to 6,786 undernourished children before expanding to nearly 50,000 school-age children.
“Daku gid ang bulig sang sining mga programs ni Gov. Toto, kapin pa nga kun kaisa ang problema naton nga gutom-gutom sila pagkadto sa school. Amo na daw indi sila concentrate sa lesson ni teacher,” Quiñon said.
Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Wendel Tupas-Marcelo said the province aims to become malnutrition-free by focusing interventions on wasted children before their condition progresses to irreversible stunting.
He stressed that the first 1,000 days — from pregnancy until a child reaches two years old — remain the most critical period for nutrition interventions.
Quiñon likewise emphasized that untreated wasting could eventually lead to stunting, permanently affecting a child’s body, brain development, growth and future potential.
Here’s the breakdown of Iloilo children’s nutrition status in the last five years:
* Underweight – 2021 (2.98%), 2022 (2.53%), 2023 (2.44%), 2024 (2.36%), and 2025 (2.01% or 2,966 children)
* Wasting – 2021 (1.58%), 2022 (1.31%), 2023 (1.15%),2024 (0.91%), and 2025 (0.68% or 1,012 children)
* Stunting – 2021 (7.46%), 2022 (5.33%), 2023 (4.84%), 2024 (4.39%), and 2025 (3.86% or 5,710 children)
* Overweight – 2021 (3.15%), 2022 (2.65%), 2023 (2.26%), 2024 (2.04%), and 2025 (1.86% or 2,749 children)/PN
