Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles led participants in the 8th leg of the Kasama sa Pamana: Regional Pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) series in San Fernando, Pampanga last June 22, 2021, together with PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, CORDS for Central Luzon and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., PIA Director General and PCOO Undersecretary Ramon Cualoping III, as well as DOH -Region III Regional Director Dr. Corazon Flores who all served as speakers during the event.
The Pre-SONA gathering was being conducted in various regions as part of preparations for the sixth and last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on July 2021.
“Kailangan natin magtulungan. We can most effectively fight hunger if we work together.”
Its main objective is to inform constituents of the various achievements of the administration, including plans for the remainder of the President’s term. The event also serves as an opportunity to report measures being undertaken to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic under the National Vaccination Deployment Plan (NVDP).
In his speech, the Malacañang official enumerated the successes of Task Force Hunger, which he heads, particularly in Central Luzon where malnutrition was being prioritized as part of a comprehensive “whole-of-government approach” through the National Food Policy.
“We launched the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program to solve hunger and malnutrition, to ensure food security, and to reduce poverty incidence in cities and in rural areas. Through EPAHP, we’ve been able to link farmers to institutional buyers from LGUS and government offices which use the products for their feeding programs,” the Cab Sec explained.
Nograles mentioned that just recently, the Task Force, DAR and the National Nutrition Council signed an agreement to collaborate for the nutritional needs of pregnant women and young children.
“We’ve been closely coordinating with development partners from the private sector such as Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG) which is composed of private sector advocates who are equally passionate in the anti-hunger advocacy.”
He added that last March 31, 2021, 3,890 Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARBs) from Central Luzon were given farm productivity assistance, with many receiving supplemental food packs and non-food items.
“We’ve been closely coordinating with development partners from the private sector such as Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG) which is composed of private sector advocates who are equally passionate in the anti-hunger advocacy. Our expanding network includes the academe, civil society, people’s organizations and various stakeholders’ group who all believe in our #ZeroGutom advocacy.”
“Kailangan natin magtulungan. We can most effectively fight hunger if we work together,” the Cabinet official stressed.
