DSWD, UN-WFP ink agreement on P1.3-B food program in South

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the United Nations-World Food Program (UN-WFP) are undertaking a P1.3-billion food program for 2.1 million people in Mindanao to help advance the peace process there.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the program is also designed to reduce hunger and malnutrition in strife-torn areas in Mindanao.

Cabral signed a letter of understanding on the program with UN-WFP officer-in-charge Mack Ramchandran. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza witnessed the signing.

The project will run from 2006 to 2007, benefiting poor residents in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.

These areas were chosen based on the number of conflict-affected towns, high poverty incidence and the presence of internally displaced people.

Through the program, Ramchandran said the UN-WFP hopes to "play a small part in a very big productive process" in Mindanao.

His agency came into the picture upon the request of the DSWD.

"We hope that they will symbolically associate assistance with peace," he added.

Under the program, the UN-WFP will provide the P1.3 billion, while the DSWD and concerned local government units will contribute manpower and other resources.

The program has the following components: food for work, school feeding, mother-child nutrition, food for training, food for tuberculosis, and reintegration of former combatants and demobilized combatants.