NEDA chief: Science key to achieving hunger-free PHL

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has emphasized the critical role of science, technology, and innovation in achieving a hunger-free Philippines.

Speaking at the 46th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment through strategic policies and programs to promote food security.

The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) hosts the Annual Scientific Meeting to bring together leaders and experts in scientific and policy research. The meeting aims to develop policy recommendations for submission to the government and private sector for action.

During the event, Balisacan highlighted the government’s approach under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which prioritizes food security across multiple dimensions, including availability, accessibility, affordability, and its impact on health and well-being.

“Food security is characterized not just by its availability but by the equally important dimensions of accessibility, affordability, and impact on the health and well-being of our citizenry,” said Balisacan.

The Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 is the government’s blueprint for achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development, focusing on food security, infrastructure modernization, and technological innovation.

Addressing the pressing issue of food inflation, which threatens food security and poverty reduction efforts, Balisacan outlined several strategies.

These include infrastructure modernization to reduce post-harvest losses and carbon footprints, promoting the diversification of crops, and advancing research and development in the food sector.

“Modernizing our infrastructure can significantly reduce post-harvest losses while reducing our carbon footprint and encourage product diversification into higher-value-added crops and alternative food staples,” he added.

Balisacan also advocated for establishing innovation governance mechanisms to empower actors to generate, deploy, and scale up game-changing technologies that can revolutionize the country’s food supply chains.

In line with the ASM Resolutions, he highlighted the potential of digital technologies, such as advanced monitoring tools and the Digital National ID, to ensure the affordability and accessibility of food prices and target feeding programs efficiently to vulnerable populations.

“Leveraging digital technologies and the Digital National ID can help us efficiently target feeding programs to the most vulnerable, ensuring maximum impact for interventions,” Balisacan noted.

The 46th ASM Resolutions urged NEDA to focus on equity, consumer health, and environmental conservation alongside productivity, global competitiveness, and higher incomes for farmers and fishers in national socioeconomic development plans.

The ASM serves as a platform for leaders and experts from various sectors to formulate policy recommendations for the government and private sector.

The theme for this year’s meeting, “Beyond Farm Productivity: Transforming the Philippine Food System to Address Equity, Consumer Health, and Environmental Issues,” aligns with the Marcos Administration’s socioeconomic priorities.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has articulated his vision for the country: “No hungry Filipino.” This vision is part of the broader goal of ensuring a stable, comfortable, and secure life for all Filipinos, as outlined in AmBisyon Natin 2040.

Balisacan reaffirmed NEDA’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration to achieve a food-secure Philippines, emphasizing that science, technology, and innovation are essential to addressing the country’s food security challenges.