04 December 2014 – In a special event held at the headquarters of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) on November 30, FAO recognized the outstanding progress of the Philippines in fighting hunger and presented it with an Achievement Award.

The Award, presented and signed by FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva, states as follows: “Based on FAO estimates, the Republic of the Philippines has achieved, in 2014, the hunger target set by the Millenium Development Goal One – to reduce by 2015 at least by half the proportion of people in the country suffering from undernourishment.”

FAO specifically highlighted that the Philippines has reached the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) hunger target for decreasing the prevalence of undernourishment from 26.3% in 1990-92, to 11.5% in 2012-14. Over the same period, the number of undernourished has declined from 16.7 million to 11.3 million.

MDG1 includes three distinct targets: halving global poverty; achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all; and cutting by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015.  

In handing over the awards, FAO Director General Graziano da Silva congratulated the recipient-governments for demonstrating political will and mobilizing necessary means amidst major challenges, in achieving internationally established development goals.

In addition to the Philippines, FAO also recognized the the achievements of twelve (12) other countries: Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico and Uruguay.

Minister Leila C. Lora-Santos, Charge d’Affaires a.i of the Philippine Embassy in Rome, received the award in behalf of the Philippines, accompanied by Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano. END