Reduction of hunger in Mindanao is top priority, says Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte. AP FILE PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday vowed to reduce the high incidence of hunger in Mindanao.

“I want the incidence of hunger stopped,” he said during the launching of the Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) in Cotabato City.

Duterte ordered Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo to study the high incidence of hunger in the region.

“Gawan natin ng paraan even man lang sa pagkain ng mga bata (Let’s do something about it, even just for the food of the children),” he told Taguiwalo.

“Ma’am [Taguiwalo] please do something,” he added, noting that Mindanao has the highest incidence of hunger in the country.

READ: Hungry, tired children: Mindanao conflict’s biggest victims

To address this concern, Duterte vowed that Mindanao would get its equal share of the national budget.

“You will have your equal share of the national wealth,” he said.

READ: ‘Let us fix Mindanao,’ Duterte urges supporters

He asked the Moros to give him a little time to fulfill this promise.

“Bigyan ninyo ako ng konting panahon (Give me a little time). I will improve the Moro land and Mindanao,” he said. IDL