Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is tapping the private sector in the fight against malnutrition.
The agency is finalizing a partnership with the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) for data collection and analytics, as well as spreading awareness on proper nutrition.
\”Ang engagement natin sa Management Association of the Philippines ay tulungan tayo sa baseline data. Alam naman natin laging hirap ang gobyerno at lahat tayo sa data,\” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said at the MAP general membership meeting on Thursday.
[Translation: Our engagement with the Management Association of the Philippines is to help us with the baseline data. We know that the government and all of us are always struggling with data.]
While they have yet to officially sign a deal, Gatchalian said his department has already begun working with the private organization on the nutrition education aspect, as well as the pilot run of the food stamp program.
\”That’s our role basically to lend management expertise in the whole system of food stamps, and not only that, but also the PMNP or the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Program\” MAP President Benedicta Du-Baladbad said.
Earlier this year, MAP launched its Campaign Against Malnutrition and Child Stunting. The group has the participating companies contribute in the form of direct and indirect services, funding, data analytics and management.
\”We already have 70 organizations that are in the fold. They are classified into depending on what they are doing. And we have now a complete array of organizations that can lend a hand to all these poverty programs and child stunting,\” Baladbad said.
