The Current Movements to Address Hunger in the Philippines
The Current Movements to Address Hunger in the Philippines
The Rise of Food Banks
1 Due to the increasing amount of food wasted daily, organizations such as Rise Against Hunger Philippines and Share-A-Hope PH invest their time and effort in food banking. The mission of this movement is to “end hunger, improve food security and reduce food wastage.” Food banking involves a safe handling of large donations of food from generous donors, primarily food companies and corporations.
2 A food bank stores large quantities of frozen goods, bulk fruits and vegetables, and rice. Food banks help fill in the plates of communities and households that struggle to afford an adequate food supply. Typically, food banks serve as the primary source for smaller community pantries and mobile kitchens.
On Donations and Charity
3 Through either food or financial donations, organizations like the BES Friends Feeding Program are able to continue their advocacy on feeding empty stomachs. These groups, most especially those that are non-governmental, typically rely on the kindness of people to keep their important work going. They promote their projects on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, in hopes of connecting with generous sponsors. As a result, when individuals pitch in with donations and charity, these hunger-focused programs can serve more meals to communities that need them.
4 Sadly, not everyone is privileged enough to have easy access to safe and nutritious food. Every bit of help counts, especially when given with love and meaning. Something small is multiplied a thousand times more, and can make a huge impact on the lives of the less fortunate. So, why not lend a hand when you’ve got time and extra money to spare? Your support can definitely make a profound difference.
Feeding Programs
5 The Department of Education (DepEd) launched school-based feeding programs to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among kids. In a 2019 assessment, a significant percentage of school-aged children appeared stunted and wasted. To address this, DepEd in 2022 allocated a PHP 3.3 billion budget for the ‘Feed a Child, Feed the Future’ campaign.
6 Healthy children perform well in school. Thus, the “pleasures of food” are crucial for their lifelong learning. Malnutrition and other health deficiencies due to hunger and poverty may affect their entire well-being and mental state in class. A hungry stomach poses a barrier to unlocking a child’s full potential. Hence, feeding programs play an important role in shaping not only their future but also our own.
7 For updates on the most recent projects of organizations in the Philippines, visit the following pages: Share-A-Hope PH and Rise Against Hunger Philippines.
Subsidies and Financial Help
8 Amidst the continuous rise of food prices, more and more Filipino families struggle to make ends meet. As a result, they resort to consuming unsafe food, or, in even bleaker circumstances, go without eating altogether. Alongside the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Philippine government also designed the Food Stamp Program (FSP) to alleviate hunger incidence among low-income households. The beneficiaries under this program shall receive PHP 3,000 on a monthly basis. In the middle of 2024, the FSP is expected to scale up. It is aimed to benefit a total of one million families who are considered ‘food poor’ according to the criteria set by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
9 Through such movements, the country envisions “all Filipinos to be free from hunger and poverty,” granting them equal access to opportunities, and most importantly, ensuring sufficient availability of all human essentials, including safe and nutritious food.
SOURCES [1] Home – Rise against Hunger Philippines. (n.d.). Rise Against Hunger Philippines. https://riseagainsthunger.org.ph/our-impact/foodbanking/, [2] Reitsma, K. (2023, January 9). Food Bank 101: Everything you need to know about food banks. Feeding America West Michigan. https://www.feedwm.org/2023/01/food-bank-101-everything-you-need-to-know-about-food-banks/, [3] Philippines: Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program. (2023, January 12). USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. https://fas.usda.gov/data/philippines-philippine-department-educations-school-based-feeding-program, [4] Nanalis, Ma. J. & Department of Education – Regional Office I. (2022, September 7). Feed a Child, Feed the Future. GOVPH. https://depedro1.com/feed-a-child-feed-the-future/, [5] Digital Media Service. (2023, November 2). Gov’t already taking strides in fight against hunger and poverty – Sec. Gatchalian. Department of Social Welfare and Development. https://www.dswd.gov.ph/govt-already-taking-strides-in-fight-against-hunger-and-poverty-sec-gatchalian/
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