PH stunting rate among children under 2 drops to 21.1% in 2025 -- DOH

The stunting rate among children under 2 years old in the Philippines declined to 21.1% in 2025 from 22.5% in 2023, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Wednesday. However, Secretary of Health Edwin Mercado stated that the country is still far from its targets. "Eight out of 10 children aged 2 years old and below have adequate height for their age. The stunting rate slightly decreased from 22.5% in 2023 to 21.1% in 2025," Mercado said during a House budget hearing. "Although we are still far from our target, especially our Millennium Development targets," he added. The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023–2028 aims to reduce the stunting rate among children under 5 years old to 17.9% or lower by 2028. Stunting is a condition caused by chronic malnutrition, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life, which can impair brain development and cognitive function. The DOH also reported that two in three children are fully immunized. Mercado said the agency is stepping up efforts to increase immunization coverage, which remains below its target of 95% of children being fully immunized. Households with access to basic water supply stood at 82.7%, below the target of 94%. Meanwhile, 64.5% of Filipino families have access to modern family planning methods, also below the target of 72.5%. In April, the DOH reported that the country's HIV treatment cascade stood at 61% diagnosed, 66% on treatment, and 57% with a suppressed viral load, compared with the global 95-95-95 targets. "We already have programs that will expand PhilHealth's Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT) program to cover preparatory or pre-emptive HIV treatments. We will also expand testing to help raise coverage toward our target of 95%," Mercado said. The DOH also reported that 367,226 tuberculosis patients had completed their treatment, while 262,569 individuals had access to essential mental health medicines. During the same hearing, the DOH said that TB drugs and related commodities are expected to be delivered to the Philippines between late October and November. — VBL, GMA News