The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) stated that it is meeting with other government departments to convert some POGO centers into food banks, aiming to achieve the ambitious goal of "eliminating hunger" in the Philippines by 2027.
DSWD launched food banks to address involuntary hunger and food wastage issues.
DSWD Minister Rex Gatchalian mentioned that addressing hunger is one of the three topics he will discuss with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. during the first cabinet meeting of the year next week.
"We aim to ensure the elimination of hunger by 2027... No government has dared to say they want to eliminate hunger," Gatchalian told ANC's Headstart.
Gatchalian said that the plan to eliminate hunger has been successful, especially with food vouchers, which they plan to expand this year. "The pilot has been completed, and we are scaling up... The pilot tells us that it is effective. [But] there are policy suggestions to improve dietary ratios and per capita costs," he said.
Gatchalian stated that the program is being implemented in the country's 21 poorest, hungriest, and least developed provinces.
They plan to expand the project to 600,000 beneficiaries this year, having identified 300,000 beneficiaries last year.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian mentioned that negotiations are ongoing to convert other closed POGO sites into food banks because "the rent is free, we just need a slight renovation."
"We are scouting locations, but our target is other POGO centers. We are currently working with friends from PAOCC to ensure we can get a list of other locations where we can set up feeding stations," he said.
Gatchalian set two criteria to determine whether POGO sites are eligible to be converted into food banks.
"We are conducting a needs assessment to ensure these areas are suitable and convenient. We want to see two things. Whether these facilities are up to date, and whether they are located in areas where our hungry families can easily access," he said.
Gatchalian cited the successful experience of a food bank opened at a former POGO center in Pasay City. Since its opening on December 16 last year, the facility has served approximately 5,000 to 6,000 families to date.
Under a public-private partnership program, restaurants, hotels, and fast-food chains can donate leftover food for consumption by hungry families and individuals.
"We serve an average of about 600 meals a day, sometimes about 800 meals a day, and we are grateful to the private sector," said Gatchalian.
The Minister of Social Welfare and Development stated that he will meet with potential private sector partners to improve the operations of the food banks.
Research firm Social Weather Stations found that the involuntary hunger rate in the country rose to 22.9% in the third quarter of 2024. This means that more than 2 out of every 10 Filipinos have experienced hunger.
