The government has teamed up with private sector stakeholders in launching Pilipinas Kontra Gutom, an anti-hunger multi-sectoral movement that seeks to address involuntary hunger and malnutrition.
As a pilot initiative, PKG will roll out meals for 100,000 target-beneficiaries in Metro Manila and in five priority provinces: Camarines Sur, Pampanga, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and South Cotabato.
“Hunger is a persistent, complex and multidimensional problem that we continue to face as a nation,” said Cabinet Secretary and Task Force on Zero Hunger chief Karlo Nograles during Tuesday’s online launching of PKG.
“This movement calls on all organizations and each and every Filipino to help our fellow Filipinos. Everyone must be involved and everyone must contribute so we can end hunger and ensure that every Filipino family is properly fed. Lahat kasali, lahat kasalo.”
Nograles said the feeding program will run from Nov. 16 until February 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a spike in the hunger incidence in the country, with a record-high 7.6- million families who have experienced hunger based on a Social Weather Stations survey released in September.
Among the private sector stakeholders that immediately partnered with the government for the PKG are some of the country’s biggest corporations, such as Coca-Cola, Dole Philippines, J&J Philippines, McDonald’s, Metrobank and San Miguel Corporation.
McDonald’s, through its Ronald McDonald House Charities’ Kindness Kitchen, will take the lead in preparing the meals. Coca-Cola has pledged 100,000 pieces of bottled water while J&J will contribute 3,000 infant kits for children below two years.
“Food as one of the most basic human needs and the lack of it-hunger-is one, if not the greatest violation of this basic human right,” Nograles said.
Attaining zero hunger is number two in the UN’s list of Sustainable Development Goals.
The government’s National Food Policy has identified six key result areas in the government’s anti-hunger efforts: review and rationalize existing policies, rules and regulations related to zero hunger; ensure available and affordable food; secure nutrition adequacy; secure food accessibility and safety; ensure sustainable food systems, food resiliency and stability; and ensure information, education, awareness, and people participation.