To free more Filipinos from hunger and achieve food security, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger has drafted the National Food Policy (NFP) that will outline the government's priorities and map efforts to achieve zero hunger. Initiatives for reducing hunger, ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture were identified under the National Food Policy. The Zero Hunger Task Force, led by the Cabinet Secretary, has identified six key results areas (KRAs)—each with its own working group, stratified priorities, and experts to ensure that each is on track to be fulfilled by 2030.
The KRA 3, which is to secure nutrition adequacy, has its own Technical Working Group composed of the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and National Nutrition Council (NNC) as the lead convenor. Their latest KRA 3 TWG Meeting was held via an online platform on 5 May 2022, which was presided over by Assistant Secretary and Executive Director Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang. These agencies presented their agency’s program accomplishments, challenges encountered, and recommendations. NNC, as the lead of KRA3, will compile the accomplishments of the KRA and endorse it to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.
ASec. Dayanghirang shared the accomplishments of Tutok Kainan Supplementation, the NNC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also operationalizes RA 11148, or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act. She emphasized Tutok Kainan's goal of improving the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intakes, as well as utilization of related Early Childcare and Development – First 1000 Days services among nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and children 6–23 months old in the Tutok Kainan program areas, to help prevent stunting among children aged 0-23 months.
Furthermore, ASec. Dayanghirang proudly shares that one of the NNC's commitments for the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) is to consider partnering with community-based groups for food commodities through the use of Negotiated Procurement—Community Participation. NNC has also inked 37 marketing agreements with Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations, or ARBOs, which provide hot meal ingredients such vegetables, root crops, pork, and fish. Finally, NNC supports DOST-FNRI's technologies by purchasing commodities developed by the institute, such as nutribun, rice mongo mix, rice mongo sesame, and mingo, from FNRI technology adopters.
Asec. Dayanghirang was joined by OIC-NPPD Ms. Arlene Reario and Nutrition Officer Bea Pimentel.
Author: OED - Pam Pescador