The coronavirus pandemic may have worsened global hunger but the government is optimistic about its efforts in partnership with the private sector to enhance food security and nutrition in the country.
According to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the government has taken concrete measures to fight hunger and poverty, particularly provide access to nutritious foods during these trying times.
"The hunger problem is worldwide. According to the United Nations, 690 million individuals suffer from hunger on a daily basis, and the situation will worsen with the possible addition of 83 to 132 million undernourished people as a direct result of COVID-19 and the global economic slowdown,” he said in a recent radio interview.
“There's reason for hope and optimism, however. Our incidence of involuntary hunger was at its lowest since 2005 at 8.8 percent pre-pandemic. We are addressing that number with anti-hunger programs in both the countryside and in urban areas,” he said.
In July, the United Nations warned that the coronavirus pandemic could push as many as 130 million more people into hunger this year.
In a report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World produced by five UN agencies, the pandemic has disrupted food supply, resulted in job losses, and hampered the migrant workers’ ability to send remittances home to their families that would make it harder for poor and vulnerable populations to get access to healthy food.
In addressing hunger, Nograles said the government has established the National Food Policy and sought the support of concerned government agencies as well as the private sector on the matter.
Among the anti-hunger programs are “Pilipinas Kontra Gutom,” “Brand Aid: Noche Buena Para sa Lahat!” and “Kusina ng Kalinga” in coordination with the private sector.
He said the task force on zero hunger has also implemented the Enhanced Program Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program, that seeks to increase agricultural production, augment the incomes of farmers and other agricultural workers, ensure food security, and directly address hunger and poverty.
Nograles said the government has given “special attention” to vulnerable age groups and sectors, including children below two-years- old, pregnant women or lactating mothers, and senior citizens who have specific nutritional needs.
"The government is taking the lead in the anti-hunger and anti-poverty effort, but we will not fully succeed without the help of the private sector,” he said.
“Everyone is a stakeholder in this campaign to rid the country of hunger and poverty. We do this for every Filipino family and for the children most particularly, who deserve a healthy and nutritionally-secure future,” he said.
In addressing hunger in the country, Nograles is hopeful about improving healthy food supply and access for Filipinos.
He cited that the Global Hunger index released last month showed the country ranked 69th out of the 107 countries after its hunger level reached “moderate” from the “serious” in 2019.
Based on a national nutrition survey, he said there was an increase in the rate of uncertainty of access to food, from 53.9 percent in 2018 to 64.1 percent last year.
A Social Weather Stations survey conducted last September also showed a 30.7 percent hunger rate covers an estimated 7.6 million Filipino families.