The government aims to decrease stunting to below 20 percent in the medium term as part of its efforts to address the triple burden of malnutrition, according to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).
The Marcos administration aims to bring down the prevalence of stunting among children less than five years of age to 25.2 percent this year; 23.8 percent in 2024; 22.3 percent, 2025; 20.8 percent, 2026; 19.4 percent in 2027; and 17.9 percent in 2028. The baseline in 2021 was pegged at 26.7 percent.
“The government shall promote the convergence of services to counter the causes of the triple burden of malnutrition,” the PDP stated. “The promotion of healthy eating environments and healthy lifestyles shall also be strengthened to manage and prevent malnutrition and obesity.”
The triple burden of malnutrition, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), included undernutrition, overweight and obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies.
Wasting and stunting does not only compromise the health of Filipinos but also their ability to excel in school and potential to earn a decent living in the future. Obesity, meanwhile, makes children susceptible to diseases.
The government aims to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition or wasting for children under five years from 5.5 percent in 2021 to 5.3 percent this year; 5.1 percent in 2024; 4.9 percent, 2025; 4.7 percent, 2026; 4.5 percent, 2027; and 4.3 percent in 2028.
Overall, the PDP stated that it aims to increase the proportion of households meeting 100 percent recommended energy intake from the 21.8 percent baseline in 2018-2019.
The government aims to increase this to 25.2 percent this year; 23.8 percent in 2024; 22.3 percent, 2025; 20.8 percent, 2026; 19.4 percent, 2027; and 17.9 percent in 2028.
“The proportion of households that met 100 percent of recommended energy intake worsened from 31.7 percent in 2015 to 21.8 percent in 2018. The quarantine restrictions due to Covid-19 also limited the mobility and livelihood of households, thus aggravating food insecurity,” the PDP stated.
Efforts to address these include the delivery of services critical to the first 1,000 days of life will be ensured, especially during emergencies.
The government also intends to generate quality and timely data for accurate assessment and decision-making and for prioritizing the early detection of stunting and wasting among young children.
“Nutrition programs implemented nationwide shall also be sustained to reduce the stunting and wasting of children,” the PDP stated.
The administration also intends to push for major health sector reforms and plans to improve financial protection and access to health-care services are being pursued, but significant obstacles to implementation remain.
Since 2017, several laws and plans have been passed such as the Universal Health Care (UHC) law (RA 11223), Mental Health Act (RA 11036), National Integrated Cancer Control Law (RA 11215), First 1,000 Days Law (RA 11148), and New Sin Tax Reform Law of 2020 (RA 11467).
The government also intends to push for the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act (RA 11332), the Philippine Health Facilities Development Plan (PHFDP 2020–2040), and the National Human Resources for Health Master Plan (NHRHMP 2020–2040).
The government said the country has made slow progress in terms of addressing childhood nutrition issues compared to its neighbors. These problems have potentially lifelong health, education, and, ultimately, economic effects on children.
The PDP stated that from 2015 to 2021, the prevalence of stunting among children less than five years old decreased from 33.4 to 26.7 percent and wasting from 7.1 to 5.5 percent while overweight remained at 3.9 percent.