Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles urged government agencies and stakeholders to work together to fight poverty and hunger in the country.

Nograles made the remark after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) among government agencies belonging to the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster (HDPRC) was signed in Malacañang on Monday, with the aim of fleshing out details of a comprehensive hunger-reduction program or the #GoodbyeGutom program.

Nograles said that with the MoU signing, they expect the acceleration of all existing poverty and hunger-reduction programs.

“We can do it through cooperation and concerted action. We need to all work together at ensuring that no one goes hungry in a country rich with natural resources. Allowing hunger to persist, especially among children, is simply unforgivable.” he said.

A key advocate in ending hunger, Nograles said that the long deliberations on the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty’s (EPAHP) key components had borne fruit after obtaining Cabinet approval.

“This program would go a long way in addressing hunger among Filipino children,” he said.

The former Davao representative expressed confidence that the Duterte administration would successfully trim hunger figures by 25 percent in two and a half years. The longer-term goal, he emphasized, was to reduce hunger incidence by 75 percent in seven and a half years.

Figures released by the Philippine Statistics Authority reveal that poverty incidence went down to 16.6 percent in 2018, compared to 23.2 percent in 2015. Nograles said that this shows the government has been successful in its poverty reduction initiatives in various parts of the country.

Nograles added that during the first quarter of 2019, it was recorded that 9.5 percent or around 2.3 million families have experienced involuntary hunger at least once in a three-month period.

“Children are especially vulnerable. It both saddens and angers us that this is happening, and we should do concrete steps to address this problem,” Nograles said.

“Several government agencies clustered together to find solutions. Compassion and recognition of the issue isn’t enough. We need urgent, concerted, targeted action.”

“That’s the reason for the EPHAP’s formation. To increase farm yields, ensure proper nutrition for families particularly for children as well as combat poverty, hunger and malnutrition in both urban and rural areas,” he added.

Among the key members of the HDPRC are the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Agrarian Reform, Agriculture, Health, Trade and Industry, Interior and Local Government, National Nutrition Council, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Land Bank of the Philippines, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Population Commission.

Nograles said the government agencies formed a partnership for the immediate implementation of the #GoodbyeGutom campaign, which aims to drastically reduce hunger in the country by 2030.