Next 1,000 days crucial to Filipino children’s health—PIDS study

The Philippines risks losing ground on improving children’s health and development by failing to sustain gains during the “next 1,000 days” after infancy, according to a new study from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Researchers said the period—covering roughly ages 2 to 5—as a critical “second chance” to correct early childhood developmental gaps, yet many Filipino children are not receiving the necessary nurturing care.

While significant national investments have focused on the first 1,000 days of life, a persistent gap remains in maintaining these benefits as children enter their preschool years, said PIDS former project technical specialist Ma. Norma Thea Madeline Conjares, who presented the study, “Sustain the Gains: An Assessment of Nurturing Care Outcomes in the Next 1,000 Days.”

The study identified urgent challenges in health, nutrition, and early learning.

Large disparities persist in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions, particularly among low-income families. Conjares explained that poor WASH outcomes in this developmental stage can significantly hinder children’s progress and leave them highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases and malnutrition.

The assessment found that the Philippines is off track on achieving WASH targets. Among the bottom 40 percent of income households, 1 in 10 children still practice open defecation, and unsafe drinking water is more prevalent among the poor.

Regional disparities are stark, with only 60 percent of children under the age of 5 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) having access to improved WASH services.

Though national stunting and wasting indicators have improved, the study warns that deteriorating food environments and declining breastfeeding practices may undermine progress. Conjares noted a sharp increase in stunting after 12 months, suggesting that poor infant and young child feeding practices are major barriers to sustaining nutrition gains.

Beyond physical health, the study pointed to low participation in early learning and poor caregiving awareness. Attendance in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs remains extremely low, with only 1 in 10 households with children under 5 attending.

Awareness of recommended positive parenting practices is also limited, with only 2 in 10 households following guidelines.

Safety and protection remain a major concern, as half of Filipino children in the next 1,000 days experience physical punishment, which can impair learning and long-term mental health.

“Health and nutrition are foundational, but they alone cannot sustain early gains. Children also need nurturing environments, early learning opportunities, and protection from violence to maximize their development,” Conjares said.

ECCD Council technical assistant to the executive director and program development officer Maria Teresa Medina highlighted recent policy efforts under Republic Act 12199, which mandates and expands parenting education as a national responsibility across local government units (LGUs).

The ECCD Council is training child development workers and teachers in responsive caregiving and early stimulation to provide guidance to caregivers nationwide.