The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) have beefed up their convergence efforts under the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) to support local government units (LGUs) in delivering integrated nutrition, health, and social protection interventions.

The DSWD-DOH initiative is in response to the latest National Nutrition Survey (NNS) which revealed an increase in stunting among Filipino children under five years old, rising from 23.6 percent in 2023 to 25.3 percent in 2025.

The findings underscore the need for stronger multisectoral action and sustained investments to address the complex causes of malnutrition.

“The latest findings of the NNS remind us that addressing malnutrition requires sustained and coordinated action across sectors and levels of governance,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.

“The PMNP demonstrates that empowering local governments and communities to plan and implement nutrition-sensitive interventions can lead to meaningful improvements in the lives of children and families,” the DSWD chief added.

The DSWD’s Kapit-bising Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) implements the nutrition-sensitive interventions that address the underlying social and environmental determinants of malnutrition.

Working closely with the LGUs and communities, the program strengthens local nutrition governance and supports community-driven sub-projects (SPs) such as potable water systems, Child Development Centers (CDCs), health facilities, and other investments that improve access to essential services.

As of December 2025, the DSWD has completed 4,200 SPs on Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and 684 on water-sanitation and hygiene-related SPs or a total of 4,884 completed SPs.

These were implemented in more than 5,000 barangays in 235 municipalities, covering 12 out of the 18 regions in the country with a total budget of 4.06 billion pesos funded by the World Bank from 2022 to 2026.

Despite the overall increase in stunting, encouraging gains were recorded among children aged two years and below, with prevalence declining from 22.5 percent in 2023 to 21.1 percent in 2025. The improvement highlights the importance of sustained investments during the First 1,000 Days of life, a critical period for child growth and development.

Through PMNP, DOH leads the implementation of nutrition-specific interventions, including maternal and child health services, growth monitoring, breastfeeding promotion, and other health and nutrition programs aimed at improving the nutritional status of mothers and children.

“Stunting continues to threaten the future of many Filipino children, and the latest figures challenge us to do more. While we are encouraged by the gains in areas covered by the PMNP, the DOH is determined to expand these proven interventions and accelerate investments in the First 1,000 Days of life so that no child is left behind,” DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.

Reports on the Municipal-level Operation Timbang Plus (OPT+) from 2023 to 2025 indicated that PMNP-covered municipalities achieved a 4.6 percent reduction in childhood stunting and severe stunting, compared to only a 0.8 percent decline in non-PMNP areas.

Improvements were also observed in exclusive breastfeeding, maternal health service utilization, child feeding practices, and household access to safe water and sanitation facilities.

These results demonstrate the value of convergence, where nutrition-specific interventions led by the DOH are reinforced by nutrition-sensitive strategies implemented by the DSWD, creating a more comprehensive response to malnutrition at the community level.

As the project continues to generate positive results, the DSWD and the DOH remain committed to supporting LGUs in strengthening local systems, institutionalizing good practices, and expanding access to integrated services that contribute to reducing stunting and building healthier, more resilient communities. (kcnpmo/ahff)