PHL expands program vs hunger
THE Philippine government on Monday expanded a 2016 program against hunger by enjoining more national agencies as well as international organizations.
Under the joint memorandum circular for the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP), the government formed a coalition of 34 national agencies and international organizations in line with its “zero hunger” goal.
The circular created a 14-member steering committee, which will be chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to ensure coordination and accountability for the program’s implementation.
The United Nations (UN) World Food Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) were among the signatories of the circular, which set guidelines to harmonize efforts against hunger.
“The EPAHP is a convergence program of the national government that aims to help mitigate hunger, ensure food and nutrition security and reduce poverty in urban and rural communities, including marginalized communities,” the DSWD said in a statement.
The partnership was launched in 2016 when the DSWD, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Agrarian Reform united to start the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty.
The program expanded in 2019 and evolved into the current EPAHP.
In his speech at the ceremonial presentation of the circular, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said providing credit and insurance assistance and directly connecting community-based organizations (CBOs) to government feeding programs will be the core of the partnership’s approach.
The DSWD said its anti-hunger programs include the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), regular meals for Centers and Residential Care Facilities, the Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrition Program Food Voucher Program, and the Walang Gutom Program.
Under the SFP, the agency, in partnership with the LGUs, is providing food in addition to the regular meals to children currently enrolled in child development centers and Supervised Neighborhood Play, as part of the DSWD’s contribution to the early childcare and development program of the government
“As of May 2024, more than P200 million worth of sales and contracts between 122 CBOs and government feeding programs have been generated by strengthening those organizations,” the Presidential Communications Office said.
“The government is also leveraging technology through a Digital Mapping System developed by the UNFAO, allowing connections between organizations and prospective markets, including the feeding programs of the DSWD,” it added.
Self-rated poverty rose to 58% in June from 46% in March, the highest rate since the 49% in June 2008, according to a recent Social Weather Stations poll. Hunger rose to 17.6% in June from 14.2% a month earlier. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza