Marcos calls for united effort to address hunger

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday called for a united effort to address hunger as he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to address the problem.

The President, during the Walang Gutom Award 2024 awarding ceremony in Malacanang, said everyone can contribute to the success of the campaign against hunger and emphasized the importance of a whole-of-nation approach to create a lasting solution to “this great challenge.”

“I call upon our government and our partners from the private sector, from the non-profit organizations, citizens, our friends from the international community, and citizens to work together as a united front and Walang Gutom advocates,” Marcos said.

He said the contribution of the private sector in the government efforts means a lot to the national government “especially as we aim to put an end to hunger that has been causing suffering to the vulnerable and marginalized in the Philippines for many, many decades.”

Marcos said that at the start of his administration, he had mentioned in an interview that his dream is for Filipinos not to be hungry.

“So, let us move forward with determination, compassion, and purpose in building a Bagong Pilipinas where food is not only affordable but plentiful, and where every Bagong Pilipino leads a good, healthy, and productive life,” he said.

During the event, the President handed out certificates recognizing the anti-hunger programs of different local government units and urged other LGUs to replicate the success stories of the awardees and see for themselves what works, what can be improved, and adopted in their communities.

He thanked the more than 100 LGUs that participated in the program, adding the national government is taking notes to see what more can be done at the national level.

A total of 17 LGUS qualified as finalists which was further trimmed down to 10.

The 10 awardees are Barangays Commonwealth in Quezon City and Naggasican in Santiago City; the municipalities of Asuncion in Davao del Norte; Palompon in Leyte; and Bacnotan in La Union; the cities of Kidapawan in Cotabato, Bago and Cadiz in Negros Occidental, and Mati in Davao; and the province of Biliran.

The winning LGUs were awarded P2 million