The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) issued an urgent warning in June after the stunting rate among Filipino children under five years old recorded its first increase in a decade, according to a report in BusinessWorld. The data indicates that one in four children in the age group of 0 to 59 months is now stunted, reversing years of gradual improvement in child nutrition metrics.
Stunting, defined as low height-for-age, is a marker of chronic undernutrition and is linked to long-term cognitive and physical deficits. The increase raises concerns about the human capital development of the next generation, as early childhood malnutrition can affect educational outcomes and economic productivity in adulthood.
EDCOM II, which was created to review and recommend education reforms, highlighted the need for stronger nutrition programs and social protection measures. The commission called for immediate government action to reverse the trend and prevent further deterioration in child health indicators across the country.