ILOILO — Iloilo Province has recorded steady and measurable gains in reducing malnutrition among children aged zero to five, with official data showing consistent declines across all major nutrition indicators over the past three years — a public health milestone that officials say strengthens the province’s long-term human capital.
Data presented by the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) during a recent Provincial School Board meeting showed year-on-year improvements in underweight, wasting, stunting, and overweight prevalence among young children from 2023 to 2025, according to 3rd District’s Provincial Board member Jason Gonzales.
Underweight prevalence dropped from 2.44 percent (3,804 children) in 2023 to 2.01 percent (2,966 children) in 2025.
Wasting declined from 1.15 percent (1,727 children) to 0.68 percent (1,012 children) over the same period.
Stunting fell from 4.84 percent (7,204 children) to 3.86 percent (5,710 children).
Overweight cases also decreased from 2.26 percent (3,359 children) to 1.86 percent (2,749 children).
Health officials define underweight as a child weighing too little for their age, often indicating chronic or acute undernutrition.
Wasting refers to low weight for height and reflects recent, severe weight loss usually caused by acute food shortage or illness.
Stunting describes low height for age, a sign of long-term or chronic malnutrition that can permanently affect physical and cognitive development.
Overweight, meanwhile, occurs when a child has excessive body weight for their height, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases even at a young age.
“From 2021 to 2025, fewer children aged 0 to 5 in Iloilo were stunted, wasted, underweight, or overweight. More children are reaching school age healthier, stronger, and better prepared to learn — a quiet but powerful investment in the province’s future,” Gonzales said.
However, Gonzales flagged a troubling contrast once children enter the school system, citing the same IPHO report.
“The same report shows that among Kinder to Grade 6 pupils (roughly ages 5 to 12), stunting remains high, wasting is still significant, and overweight is beginning to rise,” he said.
The pattern, Gonzales noted, suggests that while Iloilo has made strong progress in early childhood nutrition, sustaining those gains during the school years remains a challenge.
“Iloilo is doing well at protecting children before age five — but we struggle to sustain those gains once children enter school,” he added.
Gonzales welcomed the Department of Education’s commitment to address the gap, noting that DepEd representatives announced during the meeting that the 2026 budget for the School-Based Feeding Program will include universal coverage for Kinder and Grade 1 pupils, a move expected to reinforce nutrition gains beyond early childhood./PN
