Hunger, being the world’s leading problem becomes the utmost priority as the government, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), academe, and other private sectors across the Philippines act as one as they launched the Pilipinas Kontra Gutom, a multi-sectoral movement that aims to eradicate hunger in the country on Tuesday, November 10.
Task Force Zero Hunger Chairman and Cabinet Sec. Karlo Nograles led the virtual movement together with the six founding members from the private sectors including Dole Philippines, Coca-Cola Philippines, Johnson & Johnson Philippines, McDonald’s Philippines, Metrobank, and San Miguel Corporation.
The launch of the movement was a key result of the recent National Food Policy (NFP) created in October.
“This movement calls on all organizations and every Filipino to help our fellow Filipinos. Lahat kasali, lahat kasalo. Everyone must be involved and everyone must contribute so everyone will be able to partake of a meal so we can end hunger together,” Nograles said.
Citing the 2020 Global Hunger Index, the Philippines ranks 69th out of the 107 countries labeled as “moderate” with a score of 19.0, sufficient data of hunger in the country.
Meanwhile, the latest Social Weather Stations survey (SWS) on September 27, also found that 30.7% or an estimated 7.6 million households are experiencing hunger due to the lack of food to eat during the coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, according to the World Food Programme, over 130 million people suffer from acute hunger because of economic deflation and some natural disasters.
To address the increasing number of hungry Filipinos, the first goal of the Pilipinas Kontra Gutom is to provide a sustainable solution to combat hunger in the Philippines by 2030.
The campaign for Zero Hunger does not only give sustainable food but also committed to helping farmers, food producers, pregnant women, and malnourished kids as a road map in their second goal to achieving zero hunger in the country.
“Ang kagutuman kung hindi natin mahahanapan ng solusyon ay paglabag sa karapatang pantao,” “Hindi manhid ang pribadong sector,” Nograles added.
Pilipinas Kontra Gutom together with the founding members has initially pledged to provide 100,000 meals for the identified communities in National Capital Region (NCR) and will also distribute 3,000 infant kits for children below two years old.
The movement is calling for more public and private food provider to help more Filipino communities especially this Christmas time, respective group or individual may donate on this website.
Photo Credit: UNDP Philippines
