Constitutional and treaty basis
- Section 11, Article XIII of the Constitution is cited to support an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development and affordable access to essential goods and social services.
- Paragraph 2, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is cited to recognize the right to be free from hunger and to require measures to improve food production, conservation, and distribution.
- The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is cited, specifically Sustainable Development Goal No. 2, on ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
- Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution is cited for the President’s control over executive departments and the duty to ensure faithful execution of the laws.
- The order is issued to ensure a whole-of-government approach through coordinated, rationalized, monitored, and assessed government action.
Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger created
- Section 1 creates the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger (Task Force).
- The Chairperson is the Cabinet Secretary.
- The Vice Chairpersons are Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development.
- The Members are the following officials:
- Secretary, Department of Agriculture
- Secretary, Department of Agrarian Reform
- Secretary, Department of Budget and Management
- Secretary, Department of Education
- Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- Secretary, Department of Health
- Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment
- Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government
- Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry
- Secretary, Department of Science and Technology
- Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office
- Director General, National Economic and Development Authority
- Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education
- Each Task Force member may designate an alternate in the member’s absence, and the alternate must be fully authorized to decide for and on behalf of the member.
Core powers and mandate
- Section 2 requires the Task Force to ensure government policies, initiatives, and projects on attaining zero hunger are coordinated, responsive, and effective.
- Section 2(a) requires the Task Force to formulate a National Food Policy (NFP) that:
- outlines national priorities based on a comprehensive understanding of hunger and related issues,
- provides a roadmap for achieving zero hunger,
- takes into consideration existing laws and issuances, and international law and treaty obligations,
- includes initiatives for ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
- Section 2(b) requires the Task Force to coordinate and rationalize efforts of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities for a whole-of-government approach to attaining zero hunger.
- Section 2(c) requires the Task Force to monitor and evaluate government progress by identifying key performance indicators for:
- ending hunger,
- achieving food security,
- improving nutrition,
- promoting sustainable agriculture.
- Section 2(d) authorizes the Task Force to create technical working groups from among its member-agencies to address specific concerns relative to implementation.
- Section 2(e) requires the Task Force to prepare and submit to the President annual reports on:
- the state of hunger,
- food security,
- nutrition,
- agricultural production in the country,
- the Task Force’s initiatives and recommendations.
- Section 2(f) authorizes the Task Force to perform other functions as the President directs.
Secretariat and inter-agency support
- Section 3 creates a Secretariat for the Task Force.
- The Secretariat is composed of personnel from the Task Force’s member-agencies.
- The Secretariat provides administrative, operational, and technical assistance to the Task Force.
- Section 4 allows the Task Force to enlist support and assistance of other government agencies and instrumentalities to attain the objectives of the order.
- Local government units are enjoined to render necessary assistance to the Task Force in implementing the order.
Funding framework for implementation
- Section 5 provides that initial implementation funding requirements are charged against the current appropriations of the member-agencies of the Task Force.
- Section 5 provides that budgetary requirements for succeeding years are included in the annual budget proposals of the concerned agencies.
Separability, repeal, and effectivity
- Section 6 establishes separability: if any provision is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.
- Section 7 repeals or amends all orders and issuances inconsistent with the Executive Order.
- Section 8 states that the Executive Order takes effect immediately.
- The order was done in the City of Manila on January 10, 2020, signed by RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, with SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA as Executive Secretary.