In the Philippines, the rate of malnutrition has remained essentially unchanged for close to thirty years. Stunting, which causes children to be underweight for their age, affected one in three children (29%) under the age of five in 2019.

In some areas, more than 40% of the population suffers from stunting. Children under the age of five are stunted in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at a rate of 45%, the Southwestern Tagalog Region (MIMAROPA) at 41%, the Bicol Region at 40%, the Western Visayas at 40%, and the South Central Mindanao Region (SOCCKSARGEN) at 40%. 

According to the Social Weather Station's 2nd quarter survey on hunger in 2023, 2.7 million Filipino families went hungry involuntarily because of a scarcity of food. 

On September 4, 2023, at The Manila Hotel, National Launch of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023–2028 was held. National Nutrition Council (NNC) Assistant Secretary and Executive Director IV Azucena M. Dayanghirang stated that these families with food insecurity either abandon nutritional value and variety, reduce food quantity, skip meals, or consume no food for an entire day or more (Gutierrez, 2023).