BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The province of Abra has the highest prevalence of undernutrition and overnutrition among children with ages under five compared to other provinces of the Cordillera region.
The Regional Nutrition Committee presented the 2021 Operation Timbang Plus (OPT Plus) results from the concerned local government units during the virtual meeting held on May 18.
Based on the data, the region has a prevalence rate of 1.47% for wasting or low weight. The Top 10 municipalities with high prevalence of wasting are Dolores, Manabo, Pidigan, Licuan-Baay, Lagangilang, La Paz, Boliney, Bangued and San Juan in Abra, and Flora in Apayao.
For stunting, the region recorded a prevalence rate of 8.58% with Abra as the highest with 16.95%.
For underweight, and overweight and obesity, the region has a prevalence rate of 3.19% and 2.72%, respectively, with Abra as the highest and Baguio City as the lowest.
The Top 10 municipalities in Cordillera with high prevalence of overweight and obesity include Boliney, Villaviciosa, Pidigan, Lagangilang, and Tayum in Abra; Flora and Luna in Apayao; Barlig and Paracelis in Mountain Province, and Kiangan in Ifugao.
From 2018 to 2021, it was also noted that stunting, wasting and underweight are decreasing but overweight and obesity are increasing.
“2020-2021, nag-increase siya. This is the time of pandemic, may mga areas siguro na hindi sila masyadong affected sa food insecurity. Mostly, ang naging problem would be because of mobility. I think, we expect also the other age groups na nag-increase sila (ng weight) … ngayong pandemic na ito because hindi na tayo masyadong nakakalabas,” National Nutrition Council – Cordillera Nutrition Officer Bella Basalong explained.
She expressed her gratitude to the LGUs that provided the data for the generation of the OPT Plus result.
“This will be helpful in our preparation for the Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition, policies as well and for providing technical assistance sa mga LGUs,” she said.
Basalong clarified that the OPT Plus data of Sabangan, Mountain Province was not included because the LGU used the old OPT Plus tool. **JDP/DEG-PIA CAR
