Senator Loren Legarda has rallied authorities to ensure that no Filipino goes to bed hungry.
“We must see to it that food security becomes a reality in every household. Remember that our great nation cannot thrive if more and more Filipinos become hungry every single day,” Legarda said in a statement as the government mulls declaring a food security emergency.
The author of various food security-related laws, such as the Organic Agriculture Act, Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act and the Rural Farm Schools Act, also said, “I have always believed that food security is a strong foundation of a healthy and productive country. We must acknowledge the threat that this (hunger) problem continues to pose to our society. Beyond sympathy, we must offer real and long-term solutions. We must continue investing in the Filipino people by guaranteeing them inclusive access to food.”
Legarda herself is tackling the issue through her ongoing “Bayong-All-You-Can” campaign at the Senate. Started two years ago, the project buys tons of fresh vegetables and other produce directly from local farmers and distribute these to Senate employees.
The author of the Zero Food Waste Act of 2022 has expressed concern over a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released on 14 January reporting that 25.9 percent of Filipino households admitted to experiencing hunger at least once in the past three months.
The SWS survey also reported that Mindanao recorded the highest hunger rate of 30.3 percent, followed by Luzon at 25.3 percent and Visayas at 24.4 percent. Metro Manila recorded a hunger rate of 22.2 percent.
Legarda said she is strongly committed to developing additional programs to address food shortages and promote sustainable food systems across the nation.
The four-term senator emphasized the importance of a whole-of-government approach to ensuring greater access to food for Filipinos and reducing food waste.
She has pushed for the passage of several bills that guarantee access of Filipinos to adequate food, even in the generations to come. That includes her sponsored Food Forest Gardening Act, which aims to promote agroforestry and give Filipino farmers a chance to cultivate low-maintenance food forests.