MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the reorganization of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger to ensure the continuous and effective implementation of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger Program (EPAHP).
Under Executive Order (EO) 66 released publicly on Friday, the Task Force on Zero Hunger will now include the secretaries of the Department of Health, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Presidential Communications Office.
The director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will also join as a member of the task force, according to the new EO, which repealed the EO 27 issued in 2023.
“The Task Force on Zero Hunger members may designate an alternate to represent their respective offices in their absence. Such alternate must be fully authorized to decide for and on behalf of the Task Force on Zero Hunger member,” EO 66 read.
“As may be necessary and upon the approval of the President and/or the Executive Secretary, the Task Force on Zero Hunger is hereby authorized to further reorganize its composition, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations,” it added.
The new EO also mandates the Task Force on Zero Hunger to ensure that government policies, initiatives, and projects on attaining zero hunger will be coordinated, responsive, and effective.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued Memorandum Circular 47 on April 19 which directs all government agencies and local government units to support the implementation of the EPAHP to ensure food security and proper nutrition.
The EPAHP is one of the banner programs of the Task Force on Zero Hunger aimed at institutionalizing efforts to mitigate hunger and promote food and nutrition security by linking community-based organizations to prospective markets and providing credit assistance to support food production, processing, and distribution./PN
