PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has committed to further boosting the Philippines' partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) to combat malnutrition and hunger in the country.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain on Monday made a courtesy call to the President in Malacañang to discuss how to eliminate hunger in the Philippines.
In his remarks, Marcos said the Philippine government was always open to participating in any efforts of the WFP to help ease hunger and malnutrition in the country.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain on Monday made a courtesy call to the President in Malacañang to discuss how to eliminate hunger in the Philippines. PCO Photo"The strategies that you've brought to us are really... very insightful," Marcos told McCain during the meeting.
Marcos said the government would work with the WFP to expand its feeding programs in the country.
"We're expanding our partnership with WFP to end hunger and ensure every Filipino family enjoys nutritious food on their table," Marcos said in a separate statement on his social media account.
Furthermore, Marcos said the hunger and malnutrition incidents in the Philippines had already improved through the years and that the country was much better off now.
He said the Philippine government had already shifted from providing food supply to actual nutrition through the "Walang Gutom 2027: FoodStamp Program," a flagship program to address malnutrition and hunger.
"Food supply is, for the most part, I would say, sufficient. But what we've learned over the years is how to take care of ourselves. And again, especially for the kids," he added.
Marcos also thanked McCain for her visit and concern about the country's food program as he assured her that the Philippine government would continue to advance the nutrition of Filipino children.
"Through expanding School Meals and Farm-to-School projects, alongside the Walang Gutom 2027 program, we are committed to ensuring access to nutritious meals for all," he said.
McCain lauded Marcos and his administration for giving importance to and prioritizing the nutrition and welfare of Filipino children through various initiatives, including feeding programs.
"I think it's very important that your foresight in implementing our school feeding programs and become self-sufficient in the long run," McCain told Marcos.
"So, we love that program," the WFP official added.
According to the WFP's website, there has been a Farm-to-School initiative in Barangay Talisawa in Maguindanao since 2022. The program has the local government procure locally sourced ingredients while parents take turns preparing meals for their kids.
Earlier, the President said he would want to eliminate hunger in the Philippines by the end of his term in 2028.
"We have always tried to rise up from the throes of poverty, but the problem of hunger and malnutrition still remains. And that's why it has become a priority of this government that we will fight all the poverty. We will put in all the programs so that one day we can say that we are able to give our people, at the very least, the food that they need to survive, the nutrition that they need to survive," the President said.
"That is the dream of this administration. That is what we are hoping to achieve in this administration, that by the end of 2028, we can say that we have done everything to reduce the hunger and poverty in our country," he added.
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