In an effort to eradicate hunger in the next 10 years, Sen. Bam Aquino has submitted a measure seeking to ensure regular, permanent and unrestricted access to food and nutrition for every Filipino.

 “In this day and age of technology, economic development, and social consciousness, it is inexcusable to allow our countrymen to grow hungry,” said Sen. Bam in Senate Bill No. 712 or the Right to Adequate Food Framework Act.

 “It is our duty to enhance the welfare of our citizens and ensure that every Filipino is given regular, permanent, and unrestricted access to sufficient food and nutrition,” he added.

 Explaining his measure, Sen. Bam it will ensure that land devoted to food production shall be increased to 50 percent of all prime agricultural land in every region.

 The measure will also increase the coverage of school feeding programs, the public budget allocation for the marginalized and disadvantaged Filipinos who are unable to feed themselves, as well as research on agriculture, irrigation, and rural development.

 A Commission on the Right to Adequate Food under the Commission on Human Rights, will be established to ensure its compliance and implementation to ensure proactive and efficient implementation of plans to achieve zero-hunger in the Philippines.

 “The least we can do for our poor countrymen is to actively pursue the eradication of hunger in the Philippines. I urge my colleagues to vote for the passing of this measure,” Sen. Bam said.

 The senator also seeks to alleviate childhood malnutrition in the Philippines through a feeding program for infants, public kindergarten and elementary school children.

 “It will promote the health of children who are most in need, by providing regular and free access to nutritious food within a safe and clean school and community environment,” Sen. Bam said in Senate Bill No. 694 or the “Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy” Bill.

 In a study called “The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012”, conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a total of 16 million Filipinos were considered undernourished from 2010 to 2012.

 Aside from eradicating hunger, the measure will also help alleviate poverty by tapping small-scale producers as sources of 30 percent or more for the supplies for the program.

 These two measures will complement the senator’s Zero Food Waste Act (SBN 357) that called for supermarkets and restaurants to donate unserved food to the poor through food banks.