The Department of Social Welfare recently announced a major effort to tackle hunger and undernutrition, especially among kids. The Food Stamp Program (FSP) aims to address involuntary hunger, malnutrition, and stunting in Filipinos. Through the FSP, beneficiaries can buy select nutritious foods at accredited farmer-driven stores and other merchants. Using a whole-of-nation approach, the program provides monetary assistance via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, loaded with Php 3,000 in food credits for specific food items at partner stores. This program targets individuals and families deemed to be in an "active crisis" or "crisis situation," needing financial or material support from the National Government, whether as extra help alongside their LGU's support, based on a DSWD social worker’s assessment. Special targets are malnourished preschoolers aged 3 to 5, and children at risk of malnutrition or underweight, as identified by LGU officials, health workers, or teachers. The BBM Administration, prioritizing food security in its Agenda, deserves thanks for institutionalizing this flagship anti-hunger program through Executive Order 44. The program was pilot-tested in 2023 with 2,000 households nationwide.
Knowing Philippine political and economic realities, though, it's predictable that government efforts alone won't solve hunger. Just remember the 2025 National Government Budget controversies, where essential funding for education and health was shifted, some labeled "pork barrel." The private sector must always be ready to step up and supplement government efforts in tackling poverty-related problems. That’s why I want to highlight some business sector and civil society initiatives addressing hunger in the Philippines, especially among children. Hopefully, these examples inspire more private sector efforts to "feed the hungry," the first corporal work of mercy in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Let’s start with the Philippine Food Bank Foundation, which I know best as a board member. Started over seven years ago, through strategic partnerships, this Foundation secures food from various sources and redistributes it to marginalized communities with grassroots help. On February 22, 2017, Alaska Milk Philippines made the initial canned milk donation. Since then, many food processors, restaurants, canteens, hotels, and others with soon-to-expire or surplus food have channeled their donations through the Foundation. We’ve developed the expertise and logistics to send these items to orphanages, public and private schools with marginalized students, parish organizations in poor communities, hospitals, prisons, and over 150 other beneficiaries, reaching about 3 million people, mostly undernourished children. Besides in-kind food donations, the Foundation also seeks cash donations for operational expenses, mainly wages and transport. Food donors include Alaska Milk Corporation, All Day Supermarket, Allegro Beverage Corp., Anchor Milk, Amici Pasta, Andre Kahn Vegetables, Arla Milk, Rizi, Caramia Cakes, Century Pacific, Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Phils., Concept Foods, Delbros, Del Monte Phils., Dole Philippines, Dunkin Donuts, Energen, Gardenia Bakeries, Grab, Green Cross, Holly’s Milk, Jollibee, Krispy Kreme, Makati Sports Club, Mama Sita’s, Mary Grace, Meadow Fresh Milk, Monde Nissin Corp, Nutri-Asia, Pan de Manila, Pick Up Coffee, Procter & Gamble, RFM Corporation, Shakey’s Pizza, Starbucks, Subway, Toscana Farms, Unilever Philippines, and URC. Special mention to Starbucks, which accounts for over 50 percent of the total food donation value and has the widest reach nationwide. Recently, we’ve also received generous offers from hotels like Holiday Inn and Sheraton to share buffet surplus.
Then there’s Rise Against Hunger, Philippine Chapter, which provides meals through school feeding programs while empowering communities with a holistic approach to ending hunger. Their programs nourish lives one meal at a time. The Good Food Farm aims to alleviate hunger with a community farm providing sustainable vegetables and fruits to improve food security and reduce malnutrition. They provide produce to local food pantries, including the Good Food Grocer, and train the community on sustainable agriculture and food justice. The Good Food Grocer is more than a food bank; it’s a community gathering place that distributes enterprise food surplus to marginalized families. Items include fresh produce, staples (rice, milk, canned goods), household items (cooking oil, soap, detergents), and hygiene kits.
The Good Food Kitchen improves nutrition and diet diversity among food-insecure households by making affordable, nutritious food products available. It also serves as a hub for community development focused on health, nutrition, income generation, livelihood, and empowerment. This kitchen is supplemented by the Jeepney Kitchen and Food Bank, a customized jeepney with a fully-equipped kitchen that brings freshly cooked, nutritious meals to hundreds of thousands facing hunger. Meals are provided up to five times a week, free of charge, with various menu items. The Jeepney Kitchen provides immediate access to nutritious meals for identified families facing moderate to severe hunger, prioritizing the most vulnerable, including children, mothers, expecting women, differently abled individuals, and the elderly.
Rise Against Hunger works with local organizations, especially LGUs, in supplementation programs addressing children’s dietary needs by providing daily nutritious meals and conducting nutrition education classes for mothers and volunteers. These programs have proven to increase enrollment, reduce absenteeism, improve household food security, and improve school-age children’s nutritional status. A food bank in Nueva Vizcaya allows farmers to donate surplus produce in exchange for food and household supplies. The donated produce is then distributed to local schools or processed in a fruit juice factory built by NVAT. This program improves farmer incomes, supplements children’s diets, and prevents food waste, reducing the carbon footprint.
There's also an element of "teaching the poor to fish" through "sky farms," which promote sustainable agriculture by using rooftop spaces for hydroponic farms, producing high-yield crops for offices, schools, hotels, and restaurants. Proceeds are used by sponsoring companies to package fortified rice meals for feeding programs. Livelihood programs also provide income-generating opportunities with expert advice on various skills. To be continued.
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