Government launches initiative to fight hunger in Central Luzon

By Prince Golez

The government is prepared to implement its Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program in various provinces in Central Luzon, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.

This, after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and farmers’ groups entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through “virtual signing” at Clark, Pampanga Friday.

“We would help our agricultural sector by supplying government entities such as penal institutions and public hospitals with harvested produce provided by our local farmers,” said Nograles as he reiterated the Duterte administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and hunger.

The Palace official also cited the 2019 4th quarter SWS survey showing that 8.8 percent of households or roughly 2.1 million Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger once in three months, a slight improvement over the 9.1 percent (2.3 million families) logged in September 2019.

“The annual average hunger rate for 2019 is 9.3 percent compared to 10.8 percent in 2018. The December 2019 hunger rate is supposed to be the lowest if the basis of comparison is 7.4 percent from March 2004. But we of course also acknowledge the latest SWS results of 16.7 percent which reflect our current realities during the ongoing Covid-19 health situation. That’s why the government is doubling its efforts at addressing food security,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nograles acknowledged the need to ensure “availability, accessibility and capability” in the food and poverty campaign, the key focus of the EPAHP.

EPAHP, which traces its origins to successful programs of the DAR, Department of Social Work and Development, and the Department of Agriculture, is tied to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

A key element of the program is credit support for food production, processing, and marketing for community-based organizations through the Land Bank and other agencies.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)