Slight drop in hunger rate a ‘hard evidence’ that gov’t efforts working —Andanar

MANILA, Philippines—The slight drop in the number of Filipino families experiencing hunger is a piece of “hard evidence” that government programs aimed at addressing hunger and poverty are working, a Palace official said Thursday.

While the drop to 9.1 percent from the previous quarter’s 10 percent involuntary hunger rate may seem “nominal” to some, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar stressed that it “means that the steps concerned agencies are taking are in the right direction.”

“It is a fact that poverty and hunger are linked and our government will continue initiatives that address both concurrently,” Andanar said in a statement.

According to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey, the figure amounts to roughly 2.3 million Filipino families. This is the sum of 7.4 percent (1.8 million families) who experienced moderate hunger, and 1.7 percent (426,000 families) who went through severe hunger.

The hunger rate, obtained from September 27 to 30, is down compared to the 10 percent or 2.5 million hungry Filipino families recorded in June 2019.

READ: Total hunger subsides to 9.1% in Q3 of 2019 — SWS

Andanar cited anti-poverty initiatives such as the institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Free Education Act, and the Universal Health Care Act.

“The government is also working to create more jobs through programs like the Government Internship Program and JobStart, as well as focusing on sectors that can create more jobs,” he added.

The Palace official likewise claimed that the Duterte administration has also launched programs to tackle the issue of food supply and food costs.

“The administration is prioritizing the agriculture and aquaculture sector through development programs. It is also fortifying the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), and its infrastructure thrust will ensure that adequate and efficient farm-to-market linkages are made along with dams for water supply needed by farms,” he said./ac