Nutrition exec assures sustainability of anti-poverty program
Implemented by 30 government agencies as members of anti-hunger task force, National Nutrition Council Assistant Secretary Maria T. Flores is confident of the sustainability of implementation of Accelerated Hunger-Mitigation Program in the country, an all-out campaign to curb, if not eradicate, hunger.
In a media forum held in Iloilo recently Flores said there are three components that assured the sustainability of the program and these include the implementing agencies, entry into the Philippine Development Plan and being part of the President Gloria M. Arroyo Legacy Program.
Led by Health Secretary and National Nutrition Council Chair Francisco T. Duque III, no less than President Gloria Arroyo initiated the AHMP in July 2006 as she was alarmed by the rising hunger incidence.
“In fact, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are now working on a farm-to-market road which will help farmers sell their produce,” she said
Meanwhile, Flores said the AHMP is implemented in groups of provinces categorized by priority.
Priority One Provinces (food-poorest provinces) based on subsistence incidence (2003 family and income expenditure survey) include the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Mountain Province, Masbate, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Camarines Norte, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani, Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and the entire Metro Manila.
Priority Two Provinces (poorest provinces) include Surigao del Sur, Camarines Sur, Misamis Occidental, Samar, Biliran, Marinduque, Kalinga, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Romblon, Antique, Davao Oriental, Palawan, Negros Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Oriental Mindoro, Abra, Bukidnon, Occidental Mindoro and Tawi-tawi.
Priority Three Provinces (with existing hunger mitigation programs) include Leyte, Eastern Samar, Camiguin, Northern Samar, La Union, Southern Leyte, Ifugao, Zamboanga del Sur, Quezon, Davao del Norte, Albay, Davao del Sur, Sorsogon, Cotabato, Aklan, South Cotabato, Iloilo, Apayao, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Catanduanes, Basilan, Bohol and Agusan del Norte.