Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG), a multisectoral, anti-hunger movement led by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Zero Hunger, on Monday unveiled plans to solve worsening hunger in the Philippines.
In a virtual press conference, IATF on Zero Hunger Chairman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced that PKG was adopting a whole-of-nation approach to achieve immediate and long-term goals of addressing involuntary hunger and malnutrition.
“Through this whole nation approach, we are optimistic that we can end hunger by 2030,” he said.
Since its launch in November last year, the PKG has grown into a movement involving around 70 partners from private companies, non-profit groups and various organizations.
Among its goals is to raise farmers’ income by as much as 20 percent and increase their productivity through the expansion of value chain projects, Nograles said.
The PKG also aims to achieve zero undernourished Filipino children by 2030 by promoting breastfeeding and providing nutritious meals for Filipino households.
Nograles said the movement also seeks to intensify efforts against food wastage.
“This effort involves the initiation of food surplus assessments among food manufacturers, restaurants, supermarkets, and public markets in Metro Manila, with the food surplus from donors eventually allocated for distribution to those in need,” he said.
Nograles said the group will also revolutionize disaster response in close partnership with national agencies and local government units in order to come up with a prepared, synchronized, and targeted action flow for food security when calamities strike.
The PKG will prioritize 49 provinces in its anti-hunger efforts.
Margot Torres, PKG’s private sector lead, said the movement will focus on areas with the highest poverty and hunger incidence.
“In Luzon, the priority is Camarines Sur. In the Visayas it’s Negros, in Mindanao, it is Bukidnon, Cotabato and Zamboanga del Norte,” Torres said.
Cagayan in Luzon, which has become a hotspot for natural disasters, Samar and Leyte in Visayas, which have high poverty incidence, and Davao del Sur in Mindanao are also priority areas.
Nogales expressed hopes that the rate of hunger will be reduced through the efforts of the PKG.
“I believe if we can really pour in the much needed support and resources to the 49 provinces, we will get better numbers in terms of performance in all our anti-hunger efforts,” he said.
Torres said the PKG plans to involve the public in its efforts to address hunger.
“We are preparing a consumer campaign and this will really invite the public to also participate even as low as 20 or 25 pesos to feed a hungry child,” she said.
The campaign will be launched in April.
Private companies involved in PKG are Aboitiz, AXA, Bayer, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Cargill, Century Pacific Food Inc., Coca-Cola, East West Seed, Dole Philippines, Harbest, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Johnson & Johnson Philippines, Jollibee Foods Corp., Kraft Heinz, McDonald’s Philippines, Mega Global Corp. Metrobank, Mondelez, Nestlé Philippines and NutriAsia, among others.
Among the non-government organizations and foundations that have joined the movement are ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Ayala Foundation, Caritas, Gawad Kalinga, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Jollibee Group Foundation, Kabisig ng Kalahi, Manila Water Foundation, Metrobank Foundation and Pilipinas Shell Foundation.