Firms urged: Reopen to address hunger

INTER-AGENCY Task Force on Zero Hunger Chairman Karlo Alexei Nograles urged the business community to help the government in addressing joblessness, which had contributed to a rising hunger incidence, by reopening their businesses, investing and employing more workers.

He made the pitch during the virtual Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) general membership meeting on March 9, 2021.

“Help us by reopening your businesses, employing more workers, infusing more capital, investing in our infrastructure development mainly through the Build, Build, Build as well as in helping generate 1.1 million direct and indirect jobs and catalyzing business activities all over the country,” Nograles told members of MAP, which is composed of top management practitioners from the largest local and multinational companies operating in the Philippines.

He said the country needs additional investments this year to be able to generate at least 2 million jobs in the next two years.

“We urge you to help businesses expand and to consider keeping your investments here in the country,” Nograles added.

He said the government sees job generation as the solution to address hunger caused by unemployment.

According to him, the government currently does not see the need to distribute cash subsidies because most areas are under general community quarantine.

He said cash subsidies will only be given when people are forced not to go outside because of stricter lockdowns.

The official urged the MAP to join Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG), a national and multisectoral antihunger movement he leads, whose goal is to end hunger in the country by providing solutions to increase access to food.

Rogelio Singson, governor in charge of MAP’s social justice committee, agreed with Nograles that unemployment should be addressed to solve hunger problems.

Singson noted that even as food becomes accessible, people will still get hungry if they do not have money to buy food.

“Unfortunately, the basic issue here is that unless the government through more cash transfers or additional ayuda, remuneration programs, the poor would not be able to buy or have access to food,” he said.

“I believe this is where the private sector can really support the PKG program, by helping open the economy, investing more in the economy and creating employment to put more money in the pockets of people to have access to food and basic needs,” Singson added.

He said if unemployment is addressed, people will have money to buy food and malnutrition will be reduced.

Singson called for further reopening of the economy to allow more business establishments to resume operations.

He also called for strict enforcement of all health protocols even when the Covid-19 vaccines have started to roll out.