Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace
October 28, 2024

“Today, we seal a very significant commitment that moves us closer to achieving our vision of a hunger-free nation… We gather to renew a promise: that no Filipino should go to bed hungry, and that no community will be overlooked in our fight against poverty,” conveyed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. when he received the signed Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) – Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) during a presentation ceremony at the Malacañan Palace.

The EPAHP Program, one of the banner programs of the Task Force on Zero Hunger, is a collaborative initiative of multiple government agencies aiming to institutionalize efforts to mitigate hunger and promote food and nutrition security by linking community-based organizations (CBOs) to prospective markets, as well as providing credit assistance to support food production, processing and distribution.

With the signing of the JMC, 34 partners from different national government agencies (NGAs) and international organizations are collaborating to make zero hunger a reality in the Philippines. The move also sets the guidelines for adoption and implementation to harmonize programs, projects and activities under the said initiative.

In his speech, the Chief Executive reported that as of May 2024, more than PhP200 million worth of sales and contracts have been generated between 122 CBOs and government feeding programs. Likewise, with the development of the Digital Mapping System (DMS) — a central facility to share and access information about the EPAHP Program — through the technical support of the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agencies can leverage technology to link organizations with prospective markets such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) feeding programs.

He further shared the plan to form a 14-member EPAHP Steering Committee, to be chaired by the DSWD Secretary, to ensure that necessary leadership, coordination and accountability are in place, as well as the continuous and effective implementation of the measures under the EPAHP.

“We have yet to achieve zero hunger. But your dedication to this mission assures me that we are all united in this effort, ready to build a better nation for all, especially for those who need it the most. Sa sama-sama nating pagkilos, darating din ang kinabukasan kung saan ang gutom ay isang malayong alaala na lamang,” President Marcos Jr. concluded in his message.

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