DSWD bats for stronger collaboration vs hunger, malnutrition

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is pushing for stronger public-private collaboration in addressing hunger and malnutrition ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits this year.

The DSWD joined the discussion on “Sustainability and Food Security: Strategic Initiatives Supporting the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship” on Tuesday, March 2, at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City.

The agency was represented by DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay of the Innovation and Program Development Group (IPDG), Assistant Secretary for Innovations Baldr Bringas, the officer-in-charge of the National Program Manager for the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP).

In his message, Punay highlighted existing government mechanisms addressing hunger and malnutrition, particularly the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger (IATF-ZH) created by the Office of the President (OP), which is currently led by the DSWD along with the National Nutrition Council (NNC).

“Nutrition requires a wide range of interventions and responses as it has many components. So we have nutrition specific programs, nutrition sensitive components, where again, this calls for a whole-of-nation and whole-of-government response,” said Punay, the National Program Director of the Walang Gutom Program.

He added that while platforms for inter-governmental coordination are already in place, greater participation from the private sector is essential in expanding the impact of nutrition and food security initiatives.

The DSWD said it has initiated steps to formally open the platform to private sector partners to foster broader collaboration and resource-sharing.

Punay also cited behavioral change as one of the most challenging components in addressing malnutrition, particularly among poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors served by the DSWD.

“We really need to come up with sustainable and long-term solutions, so we are integrating that now on programs of DSWD as well as in the other agencies,” he said.

The “Sustainability and Food Security: Strategic Initiatives Supporting the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship” meeting convened stakeholders from the government and private sector.

The meeting is aimed at identifying strategic measures to strengthen food security, promote sustainable interventions, and advance inclusive policies as part of the Philippines’ preparations for its ASEAN chairship this year. — JMA, GMA Integrated News