Nograles stresses continued focus on Zambo Peninsula agriculture and nutrition during pandemic
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles
took time to highlight the government's agriculture and nutrition programs in
the Zamboanga Peninsula at the time of the pandemic during the 12th holding of
the Pamana: Regional Pre-SONA Series at Zamboanga City last July 8, 2021.
During the event, the Cab Sec was
joined by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, CORDS for Region IX and DSWD Secretary
Rolando Bautista, PIA Director General and PCOO Usec Ramon Cualoping III, as
well as DOH-Region IX Regional Director Dr. Joshua Brillantes who all served as
resource speakers.
The Pre-SONA gathering was being
conducted in various regions as part of preparations for the sixth and last
State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte this coming
July 2021.
Its main objective is to inform
constitutents of the various achievements of the administration, including
plans for the remainder of the President's term. The event also serves as an
opportunity to report measures being undertaken to address the ongoing Covid-19
pandemic under the National Vaccination Deployment Plan (NVDP).
In his speech, Nograles, who also
serves as Task Force on Zero Hunger head, laid out the various successful
initiatives addressing hunger and malnutrition in Region IX, which were all
part of the Duterte administration's "whole-of-government approach"
under the National Food Policy.
"We're implementing a
comprehensive roadmap to achieve zero hunger. We're particularly focused on
collaborations with the private sector and groups such as Pilipinas Kontra
Gutom (PKG) which share the same advocacy of ending poverty and malnutrition in
both our cities and in the countryside," the MalacaΓ±ang official
explained.
"All Zamboanga Peninsula
provinces are considered priority areas during the pandemic. We're prioritizing
families and communities that need assistance most, knowing that that their nutritional
requirements are foremost concerns during this health emergency."
The former Davao legislator and
Mindanao development advocate encouraged more stakeholders and sectors to join
the government's anti-hunger campaign, noting that "Kailangan natin
magtulungan. We can be more effective in solving the country's problems if both
government and the private sector act on shared, common goals, especially for
undernourished children. Focusing on the needs of vulnerable sectors in
Mindanao is indispensable to the area's development."
