Bongbong Marcos issues EO reorganizing task force on zero hunger

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks to Reuters during an exclusive interview at his hotel in Washington, U.S., May 4, 2023. REUTERS file photo / Evelyn Hockstein

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order (EO) on the reorganization of the national government’s inter-agency task force on zero hunger.

The EO 27, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last May 18, will be led by the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (chairperson) and the National Council executive director (co-chairperson).

It added that Marcos himself, who is concurrently the Department of Agriculture secretary, will also serve as the task force’s vice chairperson.

In 2020, the task force on zero hunger was established under EO 101 “to ensure that government policies, initiatives, and projects on attaining zero hunger shall be coordinated, responsive, and effective.”

According to the new EO, the task force was previously led by the Office of the Cabinet Secretariat (OCS), but its functions were transferred to the Presidential Management Staff under EO 11, issued in 2022.

Following the abolishment of the OCS in the same year, EO 27 stated that there was a need to amend EO 101.

Among the representatives who are part of the new reorganized task force are the Department of Budget and Management secretary, Department of Education secretary, Department of Science and Technology secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary, Department of Labor and Employment secretary, Department of Trade and Industry secretary, National Economic and Development Authority secretary, Commission on Higher Education chairperson, and Office of the President representative.

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JPV