Support for Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger

The circular invokes Section 11, Article XIII of the Constitution, requiring the State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development and to make essentials goods, health, and other social services available at affordable cost.
It invokes Paragraph 2, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, recognizing the right to be free from hunger and requiring efforts to improve production, conservation, and distribution of foods.
It references Executive Order (EO) No. 101 (s. 2020), as amended by EO No. 27 (s. 2023), establishing the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger and mandating coordination and rationalization of government efforts toward zero hunger, improved nutrition, and sustainable agriculture.
It cites Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution, vesting in the President control over Executive departments, bureaus, and offices and requiring the faithful execution of laws.

The circular orders government support to bolster efforts toward zero hunger, food and nutrition security, and sustainable agriculture.
It identifies the EPAHP Program as a banner program of the Task Force on Zero Hunger.
It characterizes the EPAHP Program as an effort to institutionalize mitigation of hunger by linking Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to prospective markets and providing credit assistance for food production, processing, and distribution.
It directs a whole-of-government approach aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to ensure food security and proper nutrition.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger is directed to ensure the continuous and effective implementation of the EPAHP Program.
The Task Force must carry out its measures in coordination with relevant government agencies.
All actions are carried out subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.
The Task Force’s implementation measures are mandatory for continuous effectiveness of the EPAHP Program.

The Task Force must strengthen institutional feeding programs of partner agencies.
In partnership with government financial institutions (GFIs), the Task Force must extend credit assistance to support food production, processing, and distribution.
The Task Force must link participating CBOs to prospective markets.
The Task Force must enhance the provision of farm production technologies and extension services to government-assisted family farms and rural-based organizations.
The Task Force must enhance sustainability of the EPAHP Program by:
- implementing policies that encourage the private sector, and
- institutionalizing mechanisms in LGUs.
The Task Force must adopt Community Participation Procurement to encourage CBOs to participate in the EPAHP Program.
The Task Force must construct, repair, and improve irrigation facilities and appurtenant structures in irrigable areas in the countryside.

All national government agencies and instrumentalities—including government-owned or -controlled corporations and GFIs—are directed to extend full support and cooperation to the Task Force on Zero Hunger for EPAHP implementation.
All local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to extend full support and cooperation to the Task Force on Zero Hunger for EPAHP implementation.

The circular’s directive to support EPAHP implementation is effective immediately.
The circular is issued by authority of the President and signed by LUCAS P. BERSAMIN, Executive Secretary.