The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), along with the members of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) National Convergence Team from the national government and international organizations, will lead the signing of the EPAHP Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) at the Heroes Hall in Malacañ Palace on Monday (October 28).
“The ceremonial signing will mark a significant milestone in enhancing the collaborative efforts of EPAHP partners and development organizations in ensuring sustainable and inclusive programs that will promote food and nutrition security,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
The signed memorandum circular will be presented to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr during the ceremony.
The EPAHP JMC or the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program aims to bolster the convergence efforts of the government to combat hunger and reduce poverty nationwide.
Under the JMC, the guidelines for the adoption and implementation of the EPAHP Program by national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and partners are set to harmonize and synchronize programs, projects, activities, and services.
“These guidelines will ensure the continuous and effective implementation of the EPAHP Program,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
For the DSWD, the agency implements the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP); regular meals for Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCF); the Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrition (BangUn) Program Food Voucher Program; and the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).
Under the SFP, the agency, in partnership with the LGUs, is providing food in addition to the regular meals to children currently enrolled in Child Development Centers (CDC) and Supervised Neighborhood Play, as part of the DSWD’s contribution to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program of the government.
The DSWD also allocates funds for food supplies and meals of the clients inside its CRCFs.
The BangUn is a DSWD nutrition program implemented in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that aims to reduce vulnerabilities among malnourished children aged 0-12 and provide health support to pregnant and lactating women (PLW).
The DSWD’s WGP, created through Executive Order No. 44, is the national government’s anti-hunger and poverty reduction program aimed at decreasing the incidence of involuntary hunger experienced by Filipinos from low-income households.
“As chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger, the DSWD expresses its gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr for recognizing the significance of the initiatives of the EPAHP Program that will strengthen the programs and services of the members of EPAHP,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
Earlier this year, the Office of the President (OP) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 47 directing all government agencies and instrumentalities to support the EPAHP Program.
“All national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and government financial institutions (GFIs), are hereby directed, and all LGUs are hereby encouraged, to extend full support and cooperation to the Task Force on Zero Hunger relative to the implementation of the EPAHP Program,” the MC read.
Cabinet secretaries and high-ranking officials from government agencies and development partners, including the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO) will sign the JMC.
The EPAHP is a convergence program of the national government that aims to help mitigate hunger, ensure food and nutrition security and reduce poverty in urban and rural communities, including marginalized communities.
DSWD chief bats for stronger convergence with gov’t, int’l partners to mitigate hunger, poverty in PH
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian called on partners from the national government and international organizations to work together in mitigating hunger and alleviating poverty in the country, as the DSWD chief led the signing and presentation of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace on Monday (October 28).
“Let us continue to work hand in hand with determination and hope, knowing that our collective actions will make significant strides in eradicating hunger and poverty and will pave the way for a better tomorrow. Dahil sa isang Bagong Pilipinas, lahat tayo tulong-tulong sa pagtugon sa hamon ng buhay at sa pagpuksa sa kahirapan at kagutuman para sa bawat Pilipino,” Secretary Gatchalian said in his message.
Secretary Gatchalian said the ceremonial signing is a reflection of President Marcos’ commitment to ensure food security and mitigate poverty in the Philippines.
“Consistent with the unrelenting commitment of our dear President to reduce poverty incidence to a single-digit by 2028, coupled with his directive for a whole-of-government approach, our gathering today is a proof that food security and poverty alleviation remain to be one of the top priorities of the Marcos administration,” the DSWD chief pointed out.
The EPAHP JMC or the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program aims to bolster the convergence efforts of the government to combat hunger and reduce poverty nationwide.
Under the JMC, the guidelines for the adoption and implementation of the EPAHP Program by national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and partners are set to harmonize and synchronize programs, projects, activities, and services.
To achieve the goal of the EPAHP in institutionalizing the efforts to mitigate hunger and promote food and nutrition security by linking Community Based Organizations (CBOs) with prospective markets and providing credit and insurance assistance to support food production, processing and distribution, the JMC identified and instructed partner-agencies to implement the two program components namely marketing assistance to CBOs and provision of support services to CBOs.
The marketing assistance contains agencies that will provide feeding programs and dietary services for their target beneficiaries, and those with CBOs who are potential product/service providers to different feeding programs of the government.
Under the provision of support services component, NGAs or instrumentalities who can assist concerned CBOs through capacity building, skills development, credit and insurance assistance to improve agricultural production and establish market linkages are included.
“This JMC embodies our shared vision of leveraging resources, expertise, and innovative solutions to make a tangible difference in the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. It signifies our resolve to work together—across agencies, communities, and sectors—to ensure that every Filipino has access to food and opportunities they need to thrive,” the DSWD Secretary said.
The DSWD implements feeding program and food voucher program such as the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP); regular meals for Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCF); the Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn) Program; and the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).
The Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) under the agency’s livelihood program are identified as potential service providers of the government’s feeding program.
“We, at the DSWD, remain dedicated to doing our part in hurdling these challenges with the implementation of the different programs, services, and initiatives in support of seeing through the president’s vision,” Secretary Gatchalian emphasized.
In his message, President Marcos said through EPAHP and the issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 47 which directed all government agencies and instrumentalities to support the EPAHP Program, farm productivity will improve. Farmers, fisherfolk, and other food producers will be linked to larger markets, and will provide secure income, ensuring that children, mothers, and the most vulnerable have access to nutritious food.
“Recently, I learnt of the heartfelt sentiments of various federations of SLPAs in Davao de Oro. Their gratitude toward the DSWD and our local government units for tapping them to supply food items under SFP which underscores the partnership that goes beyond business. It is a true lifeline to our partners and communities,” President Marcos emphasized.
The EPAHP is a convergence program of the national government that aims to help mitigate hunger, ensure food and nutrition security and reduce poverty in urban and rural communities, including marginalized communities.
A total of 32 government agencies and two international partners, specifically the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are involved in the implementation of the EPAHP Program.
