President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday inspected a flagship farm-to-table initiative in South Cotabato, linking local farmers directly to food-insecure families, as the government ramps up efforts to tackle hunger while creating stable markets for agricultural producers.
The President visited the implementation of the Department of Agriculture’s Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty Program (EPAHP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom Program (WGP) in South Cotabato.
During his visit, Marcos observed how the farm-to-table partnership directly links local farmers to food-insecure households, creating market opportunities for agricultural producers while providing nutritious food to vulnerable families.
Government data showed that 7,728 Walang Gutom Program beneficiaries in the province are currently being helped by the initiative.
The EPAHP and WGP seek to strengthen food security by sourcing agricultural products directly from local farmers and farmer cooperatives for distribution to food-poor communities.
The government aims to assist 600,000 food-poor households through the Walang Gutom Program this year and expand coverage to 750,000 households by 2027. (PNA)