AS THE COUNTRY observes National Nutrition Month, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian renewed his call for local government units (LGUs) to strengthen their efforts in addressing the rising incidence of child stunting among Filipino children.

Gatchalian emphasized that LGUs play a critical role in combating malnutrition, in line with the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act or Republic Act No. 12199, which mandates local governments to implement early childhood care and development programs, including nutrition-related services.

The senator cited data from the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute, as highlighted by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), showing the country’s first increase in child stunting rates since 2015.

Based on the data, the national stunting rate steadily declined from 33.4 percent in 2015 to a record low of 23.6 percent in 2023. However, the figure rose to 25.3 percent in 2025, an increase of 1.7 percentage points, indicating that about one in four Filipino children below five years old is now stunted.

“In the fight against malnutrition, our communities—especially our LGUs—play a vital role because they are the closest to the children who need to be reached and assisted,” Gatchalian said.

He stressed that local governments are in the best position to identify vulnerable children, implement nutrition interventions, and ensure that health and feeding programs reach families who need them most.

To support these efforts, the 2026 national budget provides P25.6 billion for the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program and P9.26 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Supplementary Feeding Program. These initiatives aim to improve the nutritional status of Filipino children and help reduce malnutrition nationwide.