The provincial government of Iloilo is strengthening the implementation of programs to address malnutrition among children.

In 2025, the province recorded up to 12,437 malnourished children below five years old.

This is based on records of the Provincial Nutrition Committee of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office.

This number is broken down into these categories:

• 2,966 children - Undernourished (Lacking essential nutrients required for healthy growth)
• 1,012 children - Wasting (Having weight that is too low for a child's height)
• 5,710 children - Stunted (Slowed or rrested growth and development caused by malnutrition)

The piece of good news, however, is that based on a five-year trend, numbers are going down.

Chelsea Nosotros has two children considered as underweight and stunted.

She said her children always got sick and did not have the appetite to eat. She said she does her best to feed them healthy food as much as she can.

“Kahit busy sa trabaho, kailangan tutukan mo talaga ang pagkain nila at vitamins,” she said.

In Barangay Balabag in Pavia town, children who are considered malnourished are monitored closely and are weighed twice a year.

“Nagbibigay kami ng mango meals, peanut butter, may rice na ibinibigay rin, itlog na mapakain talaga at maibigay talaga ng ina at matulungan ang mga bata na madagdagan ang timbang,” said Annie Anecito, a. barangay nutrition scholar.

Dr. Wendel Marcelo, Nutrition Officer at the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, said the province is implementing and strengthening its programs aimed at addressing the problem of malnutrition among children, including the Infant for Young Child Feeding and Breastfeeding at first 1,000 days.

“May flagship program kung saan ini-ensure na ang health services may kasamang social services, specifically agriculture at food security.”