PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to leave a legacy that no Filipino will be hungry.

“Wala ng gutom. Wala ng gutom na Pilipino. That is my dream, no hungry Filipino,” Marcos said during the Walang Gutom Awards in Malacanang.

Marcos recalled an interview where he was asked what would be the first legacy of his administration.

“And it was a question that I was not prepared for. It is a question that I had not actually thought about. But the answer came to me in an instant: Wala ng gutom. Wala ng gutom na Pilipino. That is my dream, no hungry Filipino,” Marcos said

According to the data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, around three million households still suffer from involuntary hunger.

Marcos said the national government will seek more measures to fight hunger in the country.

Marcos emphasized the power of unity and whole-of-government approach in addressing hunger. He urged partners from the private sector, non-profit organizations, friends from the international community, and the Filipinos to be united against hunger and become a solid front of Walang Gutom advocacy.

“So, let us move forward with determination, with compassion, and with purpose to build a Bagong Pilipinas where food is not only affordable but plentiful; where every Bagong Pilipino leads a good, healthy, and productive life,” Marcos said.

During the ceremony, Marcos recognized the 10 local government units for an outstanding anti-hunger and food security initiatives for the pionerring Walang Gutom Awards 2024.

The winners are Brgy. Commonwealth, Quezon City; Brgy. Naggasican, Santiago City (barangay level); Asuncion, Davao Del norte, Palompon, leyte, Bacnotan, La Union (municipal level); Kidapawan City, Cotabato, Bago City, Negros Occidental;, Mati City, Davao Oriental (city level); Biliran province (province level).

AUTHOR PROFILE

Chona Yu