TASK FORCE FORMED TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS

The Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has created a task group to address the country’s food security as another extension of the current lockdown looms due to the consistent rise of new coronavirus infections in the metropolis.

In a statement, the Department of Agriculture (DA) —which will head the new Task Force on Food Security —said that the task force was established to ensure “food and water security, including shelter and energy, during this COVID-19 national emergency.”

Among the agencies in the task force are the departments of trade and industry, transportation, environment and natural resources, social welfare, local government, energy, science and technology, and education.

“We thank and assure our IATF colleagues that we will do our utmost to securing enough food for our countrymen during this challenging time, until we flatten the so-called curve and move on to the ‘new normal’,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

“We are taking this not only as a challenge, but consider it as a vow to adequately feed the nation and we will win this fight against COVID-19 together,” he added.

Dar reiterated in a phone interview with the Inquirer that the task force was created to enhance coordination among agencies, especially in addressing problems related to movement, logistics and food production.

He added that this would also improve the agencies’ management of resources and the mobilization of personnel on the ground.