Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles led the successful holding of the sixth leg of the Kasama sa Pamana: Regional Pre-SONA Series in Baguio City last June 1, 2021. The event was attended by officials from national government agencies, local chief executives and other stakeholders.
This was part of preparations for President Rodrigo Duterte’s sixth and last State of the Nation Address on July 2021, under the leadership of the Office of the Cabinet Secretariat (OCS) and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in coordination with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Regional Development Councils (RDCs), chairpersons of the Cabinet Clusters, members of the Cabinet and the Office of the Executive Secretary.
One of the key issues Nograles discussed was how the Task Force Zero Hunger, which he chairs, was able to focus on programs addressing hunger, poverty and malnutrition in the country.
The activity, which was held at the Baguio Convention Center, aims to inform constituents in different regions of the various achievements of the Duterte administration, including plans for the remainder of the President’s term.
It featured a comprehensive report on measures taken on the economy, infrastructure, peace and order, as well as efforts to address the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic under the National Vaccination Deployment Plan (NVDP).
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong welcomed all the guests and delegates to the event, which likewise showcased the various accomplishments of the administration in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Nograles was joined by Agriculture Secretary and CAR Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) William Dar, PCOO Undersecretary Ramon Cualoping III and DOH Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan who all served as resource persons.
One of the key issues Nograles discussed was how the Task Force Zero Hunger, which he chairs, was able to focus on programs addressing hunger, poverty and malnutrition in the country, stressing the “importance of proper implementation of the National Food Policy (NFP) because it will serve as the roadmap to our #ZeroGutom advocacy and aims to show the effectiveness of our whole-of-nation approach involving development partners from the private sector, academe, civil society, people’s organizations and various stakeholders’ groups.”
“Wherever we are in the country, our fight against hunger and poverty should take centerstage. In this regard, we actively pursued partnerships with the private sector to involve as many actors and participants as ever in our anti-malnutrition campaign.”
The Malacañang official added that he was focusing on expanding the coverage of the anti-hunger projects in regions and provinces, especially to address malnutrition in pregnant women and young children. He added that the Task Force has also conducted numerous KUMAIN webinars to include as many partners in giving life to the NFP.
“Wherever we are in the country, our fight against hunger and poverty should take centerstage. In this regard, we actively pursued partnerships with the private sector to involve as many actors and participants as ever in our anti-malnutrition campaign. Government cannot do the task alone. We must collaborate for better and more lasting results, all for the benefit of the Filipino people.”
“Kailangan natin magtulungan, lalo na’t patuloy pa nating binubuno ang Covid-19 pandemic. We’re leading the Zero Hunger Task Force with the objective of having a positive impact on the lives of our kababayans before President Duterte’s term ends in 2022,” Nograles stressed.