Capitol highlights value of food banks amid El Niño threat

CEBU, Philippines —  Food banking will play an important role in addressing hunger and food insecurity as Cebu prepares for the effects of El Niño. Governor Pamela Baricuatro and Capitol Health Consultant Dr. Nicole Elisse Catalan stressed the need to strengthen food recovery and distribution efforts.

The two officials highlighted the importance of ensuring that surplus food reaches families in need during the 2nd Philippine Food Banking Summit hosted by the provincial government at the Capitol Social Hall on Wednesday, October 14.

“When we talk about El Niño, the first thing that comes to mind is to prepare for water supply, but then we should also think about food,” Baricuatro said.

She said food banking could help address hunger by recovering excess food and redistributing it to people who need it, particularly during difficult times when food supplies may become a concern.

Meanwhile, Catalan said food banking organizations could help communities cope with the effects of a potential El Niño by collecting surplus food and keeping resources available for periods of greater need.

She explained that food banking involves collecting food that exceeds the needs of its owners or businesses and finding recipients who can benefit from it. The surplus food does not necessarily have to be nearing its expiration date.

In preparation for difficult conditions, Catalan said food banks had already positioned food and resources that could be used to help communities when the need arises.

“So, in the event of super El Niño diri sa Philippines, food bank is quite vital kay we have prepositioned food and resources,” she said.

She added that food recovered and collected in advance could be shared with people who need assistance during challenging periods.

The summit aimed to bring together stakeholders from government, the private sector, and civil society to deepen their understanding of food banking and establish stronger partnerships to expand the sector in Cebu.

Catalan said the first Philippine Food Banking Summit was held in Manila, while the second gathering provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss how they could work together to improve food recovery and distribution.

The success of food banking depends on cooperation among businesses, government agencies, nongovernment organizations, and other community groups, said Hazel Quek, a representative of the Global FoodBanking Network.

“The success of food banking actually really relies on partnerships with government as well as private sector. Everyone has a role to play—civil society, NGOs, business, and governments,” Quek said.

She said the government could help by developing policies that encourage private companies to donate food to nongovernment organizations and food banks while ensuring food safety.

Quek also stressed the importance of educating and engaging private companies so they could understand how food banking could complement their environmental, social, and governance commitments, as well as their corporate social responsibility programs.

She said the summit provided an opportunity for stakeholders to understand their respective roles and begin testing collaborative approaches, even on a small scale.

Catalan said food banking in Cebu could benefit from stronger legal protections for food banks and donors, similar to measures adopted in other countries.

Catalan also encouraged private companies, particularly manufacturers and retailers, to work with food banking organizations to increase the amount of surplus food that could be recovered and distributed.

She said the organization was open to partnerships with businesses and urged interested companies to reach out so they could explore ways to help more people.

In her message during the summit, Baricuatro said food security remained a priority of her administration, emphasizing that every Cebuano should have access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food.

“Every Cebuano deserves access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food,” Baricuatro said.

The governor recalled beginning her work in the sector as a founder of the Share Foundation, where she witnessed how meals could help families experiencing difficult circumstances and how collective efforts could make a difference.

“Today, as governor, my responsibilities have grown, but my priority and goal remain the same: zero hunger,” she said.

Baricuatro described food banking as one of the solutions that could help achieve that goal, noting that food insecurity could persist even when surplus food was available elsewhere.

“Hunger is partly a logistics problem. Because there is surplus food. There is surplus somewhere, while elsewhere families do not have enough,” she said.

She said addressing the problem requires coordination among donors, food banks, transport and storage providers, and community partners who understand where assistance is needed.

Baricuatro thanked the Social Security Foundation, Rise Against Hunger Philippines, the Global FoodBanking Network, donors, partners, and other summit participants for supporting efforts toward a hunger-free Philippines.

She urged stakeholders to turn their discussions and commitments into concrete action, including recovering more surplus food, sharing meals, and reaching more families.

“Let us continue working together towards zero hunger in Cebu and in the Philippines,” Baricuatro said. (CEBU NEWS)