Philippines stunting rate rises to 25.3% – report

MANILA, Philippines —  The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2) expressed alarm over the findings of the 2025 Updating Survey Results released by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) after it found that the stunting rate among under-five children, especially those aged 0 to 59 months, has reached 25.3 percent, equivalent to roughly one in four children.

EDCOM2 added that the worsening nutritional status is officially classified as a “high public health concern.”

It said that the findings underscored the earlier findings of the commission that the country’s education crisis begins long before children enter the classroom.

In its studies on Early Childhood Care and Development, EDCOM2 said that malnutrition in the earliest years of life severely impairs cognitive development, language acquisition, and readiness to learn.

EDCOM2 said stunting remains one of the strongest predictors of poor educational outcomes later in life.

The 2025 updating survey, conducted every two-three years, was carried out from April 23, 2025, to March 31, 2026, covering 91.5 percent of the targeted households across all 118 provinces and highly urbanized cities.

According to EDCOM2, the survey results exposed stark disparities, showing that the most vulnerable populations are bearing the brunt of the crisis.