A party-list lawmaker underscored the need for a government-led multisectoral strategy that involves marginalized groups in the decision-making processes to end hunger and food insecurity in the Southeast Asian region.
Speaking before fellow parliamentarians from ASEAN member-states and stakeholders in the food and agriculture sectors in Bali, Indonesia, Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan of Bicol Saro party-list group also reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to empower women, the youth, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups to enable them to contribute to the effective implementation of hunger eradication initiatives.
“Empowering inclusion in the food, agriculture, and forestry sectors is not just a matter of justice, it is essential for sustainable development. By implementing these strategies, we can create an environment where responsible investment thrives, benefiting our economy, people, and the planet,” Yamsuan said.
As chair of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, Yamsuan was the head of the Philippine delegation to the meeting jointly organized by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
Yamsuan said while the role of lawmakers to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition is crucial, “parliamentary action is not enough.”
The problem of hunger, which is “one of the pressing challenges of our time,” and affects millions across the globe, requires a whole-of-society approach that involves the government, the private sector, civil organizations and local communities to ensure inclusive decision-making, he said
In the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI), the Philippines ranked 66th out of 125 countries. According to FAO, 44.7 percent of the Philippines’ population faces moderate or severe food insecurity.
