BALANGA CITY (PIA) — The Bataan Provincial Health Office has reported a significant decline in malnutrition among children aged 0 to 59 months, according to the 2025 Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus results.
Provincial Health Officer and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Rosanna Buccahan said the prevalence of both undernutrition and overnutrition has dropped to levels considered to be of low public health significance.
“We are now seeing less than 5 percent prevalence for underweight, wasting, overweight, and obesity, and less than 10 percent for stunting. This is an indication of a well-planned nutrition action plan and well-implemented nutrition programs,” Buccahan reported.
District Nutrition Program Coordinator Alson Jun Domingo presented the detailed data during the recent Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) meeting.
He reported that the prevalence of underweight and severely underweight children in the province decreased from 3.1 percent in 2023 to 2.8 percent in 2024, and now stands at 2.07 percent in 2025. This equates to 1,593 underweight and severely underweight children in the province.
For stunting and severe stunting, the rate dropped from 5.5 percent in 2023 to 4.9 percent in 2024, and further declined to 3.2 percent in 2025, with a total of 2,449 stunted and severely stunted children recorded.
Meanwhile, the prevalence of wasting and severe wasting went down from 2.5 percent in 2023 to 2.1 percent in 2024, and now stands at 1.54 percent in 2025, translating to 1,176 affected children.
The overweight and obesity rate among children also showed a positive trend, decreasing from 3.4 percent in 2023 to 3.27 percent in 2024, and reaching 2.48 percent in 2025, with 1,896 children classified as overweight or obese.
“As you can see, we have good results this 2025. All municipalities and the city in Bataan achieved a low level of public health significance. This is a clear indication of a well-implemented program in the province down to the barangays, and we continue to strengthen our efforts,” Domingo emphasized.
Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III, Chairperson of the PNC, has consistently prioritized health and nutrition programs, ensuring strong provincial support for barangay-level implementation.
His leadership has contributed to the effective delivery of interventions that address child malnutrition.
These efforts align with the national administration’s commitment to inclusive and equitable health outcomes.
The annual OPT Plus is a key strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, conducted nationwide to monitor the nutritional status of children and serve as a basis for local nutrition planning.
The latest results affirm Bataan’s continued commitment to improving child health and nutrition through coordinated, data-driven governance and local action. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)
