Anti-hunger program to start in 32 provinces
THE NEWLY-established Zero Hunger Task Force will be implementing its initial projects this year in 32 provinces across the country. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei P. Nograles, in a statement, said the first rollout of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) will cover eight provinces in Luzon, nine in the Visayas, and 15 in Mindanao. Mr. Nograles emphasized the need to implement the programs this year despite the drop in annual hunger rate to 9.3% in 2019 from 13.3% in 2016, based on Social Weathers Stations (SWS) surveys. “The data tells us that while our programs have helped curb hunger, they also say that we have two million families we need to reach out…and that is what we want to do with EPAHP,” he said. The 32 provinces are: Apayao, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Sorsogon, and Quezon in Luzon; Cebu, Eastern Samar, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Siquijor, and Western Samar in the Visayas; Agusan Del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao Del Sur, Davao Occidental, Lanao Del Norte, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Surigao Del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur, Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, and Sulu in Mindanao. President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued an order creating the task force last January 16. — Gillian M. Cortez
