Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles took occasion to highlight the success of the government’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program during the 7th leg of the Kasama sa Pamana: Regional Pre-SONA Series in San Fernando, La Union last June 15, 2021.
At the event, Nograles stressed that EPAHP’s advances in Region 1 were made possible through effective partnerships among Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs), the national government and LGUs.
Our wide-ranging collaborations show the importance of proper implementation of the National Food Policy (NFP) and our #ZeroGutom program.
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 this coming July 2021. Its main objective is to inform constitutents of the various achievements of the administration, including plans for the remainder of the President’s term.
Joining Nograles as resource persons were Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for the Ilocos Region and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr; PCOO Undersecretary and PIA Director-General Ramon Cualoping III and Department of Health (DOH) – Region 1 Infectious Disease Unit Chief Dr. Rheuel Bobis, who all gave regional comprehensive reports on measures being undertaken to address the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic under the National Vaccination Deployment Plan (NVDP).
In his speech, the Malacañang official mentioned that ten ARBOs from Region 1 earned around Php 4.2 million in the first four months of 2021. The government helped sell their produce directly to institutional buyers.
“EPAHP’s core aim is to facilitate the supply chain and make prices competitive through the removal of middlemen. ARBOs are introduced to institutional buyers from various government agencies. The entire process eases commerce and helps us fight hunger and poverty,” the Cab Sec stressed.
Nograles likewise noted the gains of the Task Force Zero Hunger which he heads, noting that effective implementation of the National Food Policy (NFP) brought forth complementary feeding programs for pregnant women and young children, the holding of numerous KUMAIN webinars, and made possible various partnership initiatives with stakeholders under the NFP umbrella.
“The whole of nation approach we use, involving development partners from the private sector, academe, civil society, people’s organizations and various stakeholders’ groups is showing its gains.”
“The Task Force is closely coordinating with Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG) which is composed of private sector advocates who are equally passiongate in the anti-hunger advocacy,” Nograles explained.
“Kailangan natin magtulungan. Our wide-ranging collaborations show the importance of proper implementation of the National Food Policy (NFP) and our #ZeroGutom program. The whole of nation approach we use, involving development partners from the private sector, academe, civil society, people’s organizations and various stakeholders’ groups is showing its gains.”
The 7th Regional Pre-SONA event was attended also by La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, San Fernando City Mayor Hermenegildo Gualberto, punong barangays, non-government organizations (NGOs) and sectoral partners.
