THE Social Weather Station again conducted survey on Filipinos experiencing hunger last March 28 to 31. And based on the results of its survey, a decrease of the number of Filipinos experiencing “involuntary” hunger from January to March 2019 has been noted.
The survey, according to news reports, said 8.1 percent, or an estimated two million families, experienced “moderate” hunger while 1.3 percent, or estimated 327,000 families, endured “severe” hunger.
While news about the decrease in number of anything negative is very much laudable, the news on hungry Filipinos is still very much appalling.
Filipinos experiencing hunger are often associated with governance. After all, it’s the government’s job to provide stable and sustainable livelihood for the Filipinos.
However, there are also means to decrease the “involuntary” hunger being experienced by some right now.
For one, there is gardening. Nobody, in these days, can reason out the lack of space for gardening to be able for them to grow food in their backyard.
There is urban gardening that the government is campaigning. In fact, the Department of Agriculture has been showcasing farming technologies and techniques that are also suited for urban agriculture.
Aside from that, environmentalists also campaign for the recycle and reuse of plastic containers for pots for vegetable-growing in the urban areas. These vegetables, aside that it can be used for rice’s partner on the table, they can also be sold to buy our main staple.
Aside from this, our tendency to waste food at the consumption stage is also part of the culprit why there are still few Filipinos experience hunger.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) study in 2011, “food is to a significant extent wasted at the consumption stage, meaning that it is discarded even if it is still suitable for human consumption.”
If those who have the tendency to discard suitable-for-consumption food find it in their hearts to give it to others who are in need of food other than wasting it away in the trash bin, then there would even be lesser Filipinos to suffer hunger.
There may be nuances to sharing our food, which include religious belief and the pride of those at the receiving end. But if we know or find ways how to rightfully channel our fit-for-consumption food to the underprivileged, then what we’ll achieve is a “sharing community” which could result to a better Philippines sans Filipinos experiencing “involuntary” hunger.