Government and private sector join forces to launch national anti-hunger initiative Pilipinas Kontra Gutom
Lahat kasali, lahat kasalo.
This is the rallying call of Pilipinas
Kontra Gutom (PKG), a national, multi-sectoral anti-hunger movement that was
formally launched on Monday by government and private sector partners that will
work together on various programs with a common goal: one million fewer hungry
Filipinos by 2022.
Speaking at the PKG virtual launch program,
Nograles thanked all the groups and organizations “that recognize the
importance of battling hunger and have committed to work for a hunger-free
Philippines."
"Hunger is a silent enemy that can no
longer be ignored; maraming apektado, at maraming kailangan tulungan. In our
campaign against hunger, we should be all in, all out––anyone who can pitch in
should help, and those who can help should go all out."
Government partners present during the
event include Mr. Mat Maderazo representing the Agriculture Secretary,
Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Encabo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Director Lope Santos of the Department of Education,
Undersecretary Jim Sampulna of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, National Nutrition Council
Executive Director Azucena Dayanghirang,
Undersecretary Marlo Iringan of the
Department of the Interior and Local Government, Undersecretary Ruth Castelo of the Department
of Trade and Industry, Dr. Milflor Gonzales of the Department of Science and
Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute(DOST-FNRI) Assistant Secretary
Florentino Loyola of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Assistant
Director Cynthia Villena of the National Economic and Development Authority,
Director Mary Anne Dela Veqa of the Department of Budget and Management, Director Karen Trayvilla of the Department of
Labor and Employment, Assistant Secretary
Nestor Santiago of the Department
of Health, PCOO Bureau of Communication Services Dir. Ma. Florinda Princess E.
Duque and Undersecretary Emily Padilla
of the Department of Agrarian Reform.
Since being organized in November last
year, PKG has grown into a movement that involves around 70 partners from
private companies, non-profit groups and various organizations.
The private companies include Aboitiz, AXA,
Bayer, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Cargill, Century Pacific Food, Inc.,
Coca-Cola, East West Seed, Dole Philippines, Harbest, JG Summit Holdings Inc.,
Johnson & Johnson Philippines, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Kraft Heinz,
McDonald’s Philippines, Mega Global Corp. Metrobank, Mondelez, NestlΓ©
Philippines, NutriAsia, Pilmico Foods Corporation, RFM Corporation, San Miguel
Corporation, SM Supermalls, Unilever Philippines, Universal Robina Corporation
(URC), Unilab, and Vitarich. Organizations and industry associations include:
AGREA, Go Negosyo, League of Corporation Foundations, Philippine Business for
Social Progress (PBSP), Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF),
Philippine Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA), Scaling Up
Nutrition, Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), and
UN Global Compact.
Non-government organizations and
foundations that have also joined are ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation,
Aboitiz Foundation, Ayala Foundation, Caritas, Gawad Kalinga, GMA Kapuso
Foundation, Jollibee Group Foundation, Kabisig ng Kalahi, Manila Water
Foundation, Metrobank Foundation, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Project PEARLS,
Rise Against Hunger Philippines, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
PKG's digital and media partners, on the
other hand, include Cobena Business Analytics and Strategy, Inc. Grab
Philippines, GCash, PayMaya, Lazada, Shopee, Facebook, Google, TikTok, ABS-CBN,
GMA Network, Business World, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, Kapisanan ng mga
Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and IKOT.PH.
Battling hunger, one project at a time
PKG plans to focus on key result areas of
concern in order to organize sustainable initiatives for targeted beneficiaries
that will address challenges with regard to food availability and
accessibility, adequate nutrition, and crises assistance. These are consistent
with the Zero Hunger roadmap outlined in the National Food Policy unveiled by
TFZH last month.
PKG's initial projects include the
following:
• Farmer assistance: With the end in view
of elevating farming as a dignified and sustainable profession, these projects
aims to increase farmer income by as much as 20% within the year, and to double
farmer productivity by 2025 via the expansion of value chain projects and
logistics improvements.
• Sustainable nutrition programs: Projects
that will collectively work to achieve zero undernourished Filipino children
across all households by 2030 via a strategy that involves campaigns to promote
proper breastfeeding, to address malnutrition, and to roll out nutritious meals
for Filipino households.
• Disaster response: Private sector
companies will work to revolutionize their disaster response in close
partnership and coordination with the attached national agencies and local
government units in order to streamline the private sector’s efforts to
facilitate a prepared, synchronized, and targeted action flow for food security
when crises strike.
• Food banking: This effort involves the
initiation of food surplus assessments among food manufacturers, restaurants,
supermarkets, and public markets in Metro Manila, with the food surplus from
donors eventually allocated for distribution to those in need.
In order to promote these projects, to
raise awareness regarding hunger, and to invite companies and organizations to
join PKG programs, PKG is set to launch a public information campaign, the
details of which will be accessible at pilipinaskontragutom.com. ###
