Government creates anti-hunger task forces

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has created anti-hunger task forces nationwide to facilitate the implementation of the government’s accelerated hunger mitigation program.

Malacañang said Mrs. Arroyo issued Executive Order 825 to set up regional and provincial anti-hunger task forces to improve implementation of the accelerated hunger mitigation program.

“The initiatives of national government agencies should be complemented by similar efforts of LGUs (local government units),” read the EO.

“These initiatives should be coordinated and rationalized especially at the local level.”

Malacañang said the government is committed to “eradicate all forms of deprivation by pursuing the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.”

“The accelerated hunger mitigation program is the landmark program of the Arroyo government to address hunger both on the aspect of supply or unavailability or insufficiency of food to eat and on the aspect of demand or the lack of money to buy food,” read the EO.

The accelerated hunger mitigation program is implemented nationwide under the auspices of national government agencies led by the Department of Health.

A national Anti-Hunger Task Force composed of 29 national government agencies and faith-based organizations was created in 2007 to oversee the implementation of the program.

On the supply side, the government is increasing food production and enhancing the efficiency of logistics and food delivery.

As to demand, the government is putting more money in the pockets of the poor through direct subsidies, and promoting good nutrition and natural family planning.

The government also has a food-for-school program aimed to provide food to poor families while encouraging school attendance.

Recently, the Social Weather Stations reported an increase in the number of families that experienced involuntary hunger during the second quarter at 20.3 percent, up from 15.5 percent in the previous quarter.

“The results of surveys on involuntary hunger conducted by the Social Weather Stations have shown a relatively high incidence of hunger with see-saw trends, with dips and peaks at certain times of the year, at least from 2006 up to the present,” read the EO. – Marvin Sy, (philstar.com)