The Department of Education (DepEd) and Abbott have launched the Nutrition and Growth Champions Program, a new initiative aimed at combating child malnutrition by strengthening nutrition screening and awareness in schools and communities across the country.
The partnership combines DepEd's nationwide education network with Abbott's expertise in nutrition science to help schools identify children at risk of malnutrition early and provide timely support.
The initiative comes as child malnutrition remains a major public health concern. According to the 2025 Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) Updating Survey, 25.3% of Filipino children under five are stunted, marking the first increase in the country's stunting rate since 2015.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said partnerships like this strengthen school feeding and nutrition programs by equipping schools with the knowledge and tools needed to detect nutrition concerns early and connect children to appropriate support services.
Abbott Philippines Nutrition General Manager Angelico Escobar said the collaboration will help improve early identification of at-risk children while expanding nutrition awareness among schools and local communities.
The program will initially roll out in 100 pilot schools across Metro Manila, where more than 70,000 children are expected to receive nutrition screenings. Over 130 teachers and school health personnel will be trained as Growth Champions, conducting twice-yearly growth assessments and promoting nutrition education.
The initiative also supports the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions (ACMS), which has trained more than 450 health workers and volunteers across 16 countries and screened over 118,000 children since 2023.
By integrating nutrition screening and education into schools, DepEd and Abbott aim to improve children's health, strengthen community awareness, and help more Filipino children reach their full potential.