*This article was published on Philstar.com last November 25, 2014. For the online version, click HERE.
Senator Grace Poe speaking about hunger at "Goodbye Gutom". Join us as we feed 1000 street dwellers at NPO Road, QC.
MANILA, Philippines - At least for a day, Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares helped assuage the hunger of 1,000 street dwellers as part of her continuing crusade against hunger and malnutrition.
The senator attended a Feeding Program organized by Gawad Kalinga last Sunday.
Poe’s visit came after a passionate delivery of a privilege speech urging the government to strengthen its programs against food poverty. In the speech, she clarified that battling hunger is not government’s responsibility alone but should always be a “national civic project, where small deeds taken together, could go a long way.”
Gawad Kalinga invited the senator to the “Goodbye Gutom” Feeding Program held at NPO and NIA Roads in Barangay Piñahan, Quezon City.
Goodbye Gutom served breakfast for street-dwellers living in the area, more than a hundred of whom are severely malnourished children. Beneficiaries were also entertained for free by independent singers, artists and musicians.
The senator told beneficiaries that starting next year, the government will significantly increase the funding allotments of feeding programs for public schools.
“I am fighting for every public school student to receive free lunch. Through the programs that we pushed for in the Senate, next year, there will be budget allotted for the feeding of two million public school students,” she said.
While Poe recognized the anti-poverty efforts of the Aquino administration, she believes the government needs to conceptualize a more effective and comprehensive action plan against hunger and malnutrition.
GK believes it can help the national government reformulate its policy through the multi-sectoral effort model inherent in Goodbye Gutom.
>> Read the full article HERE.
>> Know more about Kusina ng Kalinga: Hunger Ends where Caring Begins HERE
Tags: Poverty, ZeroHunger