24/10/2025
๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ก๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐บ
COTABATO CITY-- The Ministry of Health โ BARMM, joined the Department of Science and Technology โ Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) in the Regional Dissemination Forum on the 2023 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) held on October 23, 2025, at the Alnor Hotel and Convention Center, Cotabato City. The forum carried the theme โHalfway Point to 2030: Key Findings of the 2023 National Nutrition Survey at the BARMM Region.โ
The activity aimed to present the latest regional findings from the 2023 NNS to guide local policymakers, development partners, and nutrition stakeholders in evidence-based planning and program development. The survey revealed that 48.2% of households in BARMM experience moderate to severe food insecurity, higher than the national average of 31.4%. It also showed that 34.3% of children under five are stunted, 22.6% are underweight, and 6.9% are wasted, underscoring the urgent need for sustained multi-sectoral interventions. On a positive note, data reveals 55.5% of infants below six months are exclusively breastfed, 69% of children were breastfed within one hour after birth, and 57.4% continued breastfeeding up to one year โa testament to BARMMโs strengthened advocacy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices and maternal health programs.
Meanwhile, only 28.9% of children continued breastfeeding up to two years, and 5.8% met the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) requirement. Furthermore, 9 in 10 (90.3%) met the Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF), while only 5.5% achieved the Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD), highlighting the need to improve complementary feeding practices across the region.
Distinguished guests and representatives from various agencies, including the MOST, MSSD, MIPA, MTIT, PSA, MOSEP, Provincial and City Nutrition Action Officers (PNAOs and CNAOs), and other partner institutions, joined the activity to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborative planning sessions. Development partners from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Childrenโs Fund (UNICEF) also participated, reaffirming their support to improve nutrition and food security outcomes in the region.
The Inspirational Message was delivered by Dr. Zul Qarneyn M. Abas, Deputy Minister of Health โ BARMM, who emphasized the value of accurate and timely data in designing targeted nutrition programs and policies. He highlighted that the fight against malnutrition requires strong collaboration between ministries, local governments, and international partners.
The event concluded with Closing Remarks from Ms. Celia C. Sagaral, RND, MPH, Chief of the Nutrition Division of MOH-BARMM, who expressed gratitude to DOST-FNRI and all partner agencies for their continued partnership. She reiterated the Ministryโs commitment to using the NNS data as a foundation for developing responsive and inclusive nutrition interventions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.