House leader pushes for a food-secure Philippines

THE term food security boils down to two main points: access to and adequate food supply. Subsequently, once undernutrition is addressed, better health conditions for Filipinos are expected to follow.

Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin of AAMBIS- OWA Party- list is pushing to have the vision of a food-secure Philippines realized through House Bill 6556 or the National Food Security Bill. It aims to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among Filipinos aged 0 to 13 years old and create a sustainable source of income for small-scale producers.

The bill has set programs such as infant feeding, supplementary feeding, and elementary feeding to supplement the nutritional and di

The bill also calls for the creation of the National Food Security Council that to oversee the effective distribution, procurement, and targeting of beneficiaries. A ‘ National Hunger Targeting System’ through joint efforts of the Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Health will also be established.

For small-scale producers, a provi- sion in the bill requires 30 percent or more of the supplies needed for the implementation of the program to be procured from them.

House Bill 6556 is in line with numbers 2 ( Zero Hunger) and 11 ( Sustainable Cities and Communities) of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs). The bill is still pending with the Committee on Food Security.