ILOILO – Iloilo First District Representative Janette Garin has expressed alarm over reports that Western Visayas leads the country in child stunting rates, affecting the growth and development of children in the region.

Data from the Department of Health Region 6 indicate that stunting is prevalent in areas such as Badiangan, Duenas, and Carles in Iloilo, as well as Don Salvador Benedicto and Calatrava in Negros Occidental.

Garin called for efforts to ensure affordable food prices to provide adequate nutrition for Filipino families.

“While I support efforts to control food prices, I believe we must focus on making food prices humanized—makatao at makatarungang presyo ng pagkain,” she said.

She also criticized traders for failing to lower rice prices despite President Marcos’ issuance of Executive Order No. 62, which reduced tariffs on rice imports.

“‘Yung binaba ang buwis ng bigas ng 20 porsyento, ang expected na pagbaba ng presyo ng bigas ay P5 to P6. Bakit ang binaba ay ₱0.44 lamang po?” Garin questioned.

“Ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat subalit doon sa gitna ay mayroong mga negosyanteng kinakamkam ang dapat para kay Juan at Maria. This should be pinpointed because it is actually vandalizing the intention of the government,” she added.