The national government is ramping up targeted interventions to address hunger and food insecurity through inter-agency programs, urban agriculture, and rural livelihood support, an official of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) said Friday.

NNC Executive Director and Undersecretary Albert Domingo assured the public that key government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), are actively implementing solutions to mitigate hunger and cushion the impact of rising food prices on Filipino families.

The latest OCTA Research survey showed self-rated hunger reached 21 percent in July, representing about 5.6 million households.

“May pagkakaiba ho iyong self-rated kasi mayroon rin tayong mga ibang indicators. Pero ibig sabihin nito, nararamdaman talaga at kailangang solusyunan iyong gutom na sinasabi ng ating mga pamilyang Pilipino (There is a difference with self-rated [hunger] because we also have other indicators. But what this means is that the hunger reported by our Filipino families is real and truly felt, and it needs to be addressed),” Domingo said during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.

He noted that while market prices of prime commodities, such as rice and vegetables drive consumer concerns, government agencies are aligning resources to ensure families can access nutrient-dense food lined up in dietary frameworks like “Pinggang Pinoy,” the healthy food plate guide under the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

To counter food shortages, the NNC is collaborating closely with the DA to expand urban and peri-urban agriculture programs.

“Sa katunayan, iyan po iyong ating ina-advocate ngayon, kahit sa lahat nagpupunta tayo, ang inyong lingkod, ating sinisiguro na tsini-check natin, mayroon ba ditong mga community gardens, mayroon ba ditong mga home gardens, kasi kaya natin magtanim at magpalaki ng gulay sa ating mga sariling bakuran (In fact, that is what we are advocating now. Wherever we go, I personally make sure to check if there are community gardens or home gardens present, because we can plant and grow vegetables right in our own backyards),” Domingo said.

Addressing the findings alongside social protection measures like the DSWD’s Walang Gutom (Zero Hunger) Program, Domingo said survey indicators serve as actionable benchmarks for government agencies to refine and scale up target assistance. (PNA)