ADB supports Philippines in ensuring food security

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on August 13 approved a 400-million-USD-loan to help the Philippines reduce hunger, food insecurity, and poor nutrition amid escalating climate and disaster risks.

According to ADB, the funding will be carried out through the "Reducing Food Insecurity and Malnutrition with Electronic Food Vouchers" project. This is an important resource for the Philippine government to expand the "Zero Hunger" food stamp programme - a new social security initiative of the country.

The project will help finance the delivery of monthly electronic food vouchers to 750,000 food-insecure households nationwide, the bank said.

With nearly half the Philippine population unable to afford a healthy and nutritious diet, food vouchers are essential to help poor and vulnerable households meet their nutritional needs, said ADB Deputy Director General for Southeast Asia and concurrent Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran.