The Philippines continues to grapple with an “intergenerational curse of malnutrition,” a persistent crisis that threatens the country’s human capital and long-term development. Despite sustained economic growth, child stunting rates show minimal progress, underscoring how economic gains have not translated into improved maternal and child nutrition.
“Malnutrition in the Philippines is widespread and distressing,” stated Dr. Valerie Gilbert Ulep, Senior Research Fellow and Program Director at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). “We are at the epicenter of chronic malnutrition in the region. This cycle can only be broken if children are made a national priority, supported by urgency, coordination, and accountability.”
Stunting Rooted in Maternal Health
Experts emphasized that stunting begins even before birth, linked to longstanding gaps in maternal health and prenatal nutrition. “Shorter women are more likely to have smaller babies who may grow up to be stunted adults,” Dr. Ulep explained. Undernourished mothers are more likely to give birth to low-birth-weight infants who face increased risks of stunting and developmental delays. This highlights that malnutrition is a generational issue that must be addressed during the critical first 1,000 days—from conception to two years of age.
Inequality and Dietary Challenges
Structural inequities, food insecurity, and poor dietary practices further exacerbate the crisis. UNICEF Philippines Nutrition Manager Alice Nkoroi observed that children from poor households often consume primarily rice and inexpensive salty or sugary snacks, contributing to stunting and, later, obesity. PIDS Senior Research Specialist Lyle Daryll Casas noted insufficient protein intake, worsened by rising food prices and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Policy Misalignment and Call for Reform
Experts stressed that government spending is often misaligned with effective interventions. “Most resources are allocated to school feeding programs, while cost-efficient strategies during the first 1,000 days remain underfunded,” said Dr. Ulep. Dr. Maria Asuncion Silvestre emphasized the need to realign national nutrition strategies toward maternal nutrition, breastfeeding support, and early childhood feeding.
Department of Health official Jennilyn Ygaña acknowledged challenges in sustaining programs but cited progress driven by the Universal Health Care Act and the First 1,000 Days Act.
These findings were presented during the launch of Raising the Bar: Understanding and Solving Chronic Malnutrition in the Philippines, published by PIDS and UNICEF on October 16 in Pasig City.|
