The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has sounded the alarm after stunting rates rose to 25.3%—equivalent to one in four children—marking the first increase in a decade.
Results of the 2025 Updating Survey conducted by the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) showed that stunting among children aged 0 to 59 months increased by 1.7 percentage points from 2023, the highest level recorded since 2015.
“This worsening nutritional status is officially classified as a high public health concern,” EDCOM 2 said.
In light of these findings, the commission underscored the urgent need to address malnutrition in early childhood, stressing that the country’s “education crisis begins long before children enter the classroom.”
“In its studies on Early Childhood Care and Development, the Commission has emphasized that malnutrition in the earliest years of life severely impairs cognitive development, language acquisition, and readiness to learn,” it added.
EDCOM 2 noted that stunting remains one of the most significant barriers to a child’s education.
The DOST-FNRI survey, conducted from April 23, 2025 to March 31, 2026, covered 91.5% of targeted households across 118 provinces and highly urbanized cities nationwide.
Findings showed that vulnerable populations bear the brunt of the problem, with stunting rates higher in rural areas at 27.8%, compared to 23.2% in urban areas.
Among regions, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) posted the highest stunting rate at 36%, followed by the Zamboanga Peninsula (34.6%), Negros Island Region (30.9%), and MIMAROPA (30.3%).
Data from the report also showed that stunting affects 18.9% of Filipino children aged 5 to 10, and 21.4% of adolescents aged 10 to 19.
Meanwhile, 18.6% of school-age children are underweight, with higher rates of up to 24% recorded in BARMM, the Zamboanga Peninsula, MIMAROPA, and the Bicol Region.
EDCOM 2 said these figures come at a “critical time” for the education sector.
“EDCOM 2’s research has repeatedly shown that children who enter school malnourished face significant disadvantages in literacy, numeracy, and overall learning achievement,” it said. “Studies on the first 1,000 days and early childhood development demonstrate that nutritional deprivation in early years has lasting consequences that are difficult and costly to reverse.”
The commission also highlighted underlying drivers of the crisis, noting that 32.6% of Filipinos experience moderate to severe food insecurity.
To cope, 64.9% of food-insecure households resort to buying food on credit, often from neighborhood stores, while 68.6% rely on loans from relatives.
EDCOM 2 emphasized the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life as the foundation for growth and development.
EDCOM 2 Chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo described the findings as a “wake-up call,” warning that stunting directly affects children’s ability to learn.
“To address the learning crisis, we must first solve the nutrition crisis,” Romulo said.
As stunting rates continue to rise, EDCOM 2 stressed that child malnutrition must be treated not only as a health issue, but also as a key component of education reform. — Photo from DZRH News
