Capiz works double-time to address hunger

by Jemin B. Guillermo

Roxas City (19 August) — An inter-agency convergence in Capiz has been working double time to implement its various plans and programs that would address hunger.

According to Salem Biclar, Action Officer of the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) of Capiz, they have recently organized and strengthened the Provincial Task Force on Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program, which is being chaired by Gov. Victor Tanco.

Biclar said that the Task Force is composed of members of the Capiz PNC, namely, the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Education, National Food Authority and many others.

She said that local initiatives have been put in place such as the provision of scholarship program, particularly for the poor but indigent high school and college students, feeding program, food production, distribution of vegetable seeds, financial assistance, livelihood as well as skills training and seminars, and rehabilitation of farm to market roads among others.

Recently, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the creation of the Local Anti-Hunger Task Force through Executive Order No. 825.

The creation of said Task Force was in line with the President’s commitment to eradicate all forms of deprivation, including that related to hunger, by pursuing the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita pointed out that the AHMP is the landmark program of the Arroyo government to address hunger both on the aspect of supply, or the unavailability or insufficiency of food to eat, and on the aspect of demand, or the lack of money to buy food.

Ermita said that President Arroyo ordered the creation of the Local Anti-Hunger Task Force at the regional and provincial levels as counterpart of the National Anti-Hunger Task Force.

He said that the regional/provincial anti-hunger task force shall be created in provinces covered by the AHMP to facilitate coordination, complementation and convergence of services and resources, and to widen the reach of the program among the poor and hungry households in the identified priority areas in the country. (PIA)