Albano holds talks with UN agencies on zero hunger project in Isabela

Governor Rodito T. Albano met with representatives of United Nations agencies on Monday at the Provincial Capitol to discuss the implementation of the Zero Hunger Accelerator Project in Isabela.

The project aims to strengthen inclusive and climate-resilient food systems in Isabela by improving financial literacy and expanding access to affordable credit and climate-responsive insurance for smallholder farmers and women-led enterprises.

Led by the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and UN Women, the program will run for three years, with Phase 1 spanning 14 months in selected towns across the province.

Local and national inception workshops, along with a gap assessment, are scheduled to take place through the second quarter of the year.

UN agencies will coordinate key food security programs, provide technical support for sustainable agriculture and food systems, and promote gender-responsive financing and enterprise development, particularly for women-led MSMEs, while strengthening inclusive policies and private sector linkages.

Gov. Rodito said the project will complement his administration’s ongoing Zero Hunger campaign, which provides monthly rice subsidies to marginalized sectors, including solo parents, fisherfolk, former rebels, TODA members, and kalesa operators.

As an additional measure, the province is rolling out a milk feeding program, distributing starter chickens with eggs and poultry vitamins, and providing vegetable seedlings to help families establish backyard gardens and enhance household food security.

Aside from Isabela, the project will also be implemented in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Surigao del Norte. – Isabela PIO