DA Sr. USec. reports RP’s social protection efforts to address hunger and food security

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban served as one of the invited panelists during the 51st Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to share the Philippines’ efforts relative to CFS Policy Recommendations on Price Volatility and Social Protection for Food Security and Nutrition.

In his statement, the Senior Undersecretary highlighted the Enhanced Partnership Against Poverty and Hunger Program (EPAHP) has been instituted by the Philippines since December 2019.

He explained that this government initiative expanded involvement to multiple agencies and partners, in addition to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

A timely program that also addressed the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on incomes, food security, and nutrition while strengthening resilience, Senior Undersecretary Panganiban discussed that the EPAHP, which the DSWD is leading, is a massive national endeavor that involves vigorous public investments in infrastructure, job creation, and emergency assistance services, and is premised on a combination of both short and long-term initiatives designed to deliver social welfare benefits to millions of underprivileged Filipino families in cities, towns, and the Countryside.

“The Philippines notes that this program aligns with our obligations under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and several CFS policy recommendations on Social Protection for Food Security and Nutrition,” the Senior Undersecretary added.

Key strategic measures that the Philippines has been undertaking to address hunger and food security were emphasized. These measures include providing institutional feeding programs, credit assistance to support food production, processing, and marketing, capacity building, skills training, and productivity improvement for community-based and rural-based organizations. The country has also been linking community-based organizations to markets and fully implementing the national population program.

Senior Undersecretary Panganiban also highlighted the contributions of the DA to