By Pearl Gumapos
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista on Wednesday (July 14) addressed the government’s fight against hunger at the Pre-SONA forum themed “Pamana ng Pagbabago.”
Bautista highlighted government efforts to fight hunger, including programs implemented to help malnourished and hungry families and individuals.
“Higit na binibigyang diin ng Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster (HDPRC) ang pagpapalakas at pagpapa-angat ng kakayahan at potensyal ng mga Pilipino,” Bautista said.
“Kahit na nasa kalagitnaan ng pandemya, tinitiyak ng administrasyon na nakalatag ang mga programang nakatuon sa hangaring mawala ng tuluyan ang kagutuman bago mag-2030, alinsunod sa [United Nations] Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.
“Ang laban kontra gutom at malnutrisyon ay mas nabigyan ng karampatang diin, atensyon, at pagtutok ng Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Zero Hunger kung saan 15 naglalakihang ahensya ang tumutugon at nagpapatupad ng National Food Policy,” he added.
Other programs that were launched were the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program and projects by the Department of Agriculture including Plant, Plant, Plant; Mandatory Food Fortification Program; and feeding programs of the National Nutrition Council, DepEd, and DSWD.
Meanwhile, the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program was launched to help malnourished pregnant women and children. A supplementary feeding program was also conducted to feed 16,000 pregnant women in 102 municipalities and cities affected by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.
Meanwhile, some 50 Nutriskwela community radio stations were created to share address health and nutrition information.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger was created when the President signed Executive Order No. 101 last year.
The task force aims to put an end to hunger in the country by 2030, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 2: Zero Hunger, while the HDPRC is mandated to translate the gains of good governance into a means for improving the Filipino people’s overall quality of life.
Their efforts focus on investing and building opportunities in education, health, social protection, gender equality, and poverty reduction. – jlo
