MANILA - The government reaffirmed its commitment to achieving zero hunger for Filipinos as it joined hands with international partners for the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). Speaking at the presentation of the signed EPAHP Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) on Monday in Malacañang, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. renewed his administration's goal of eradicating hunger and alleviating poverty. 'We gather to renew a promise: that no Filipino should go to bed hungry, and that no community will be overlooked in our fight against poverty,' Marcos said. In light of this commitment, the President directed all government agencies and urged local government units (LGUs) to support the EPAHP for an accelerated approach to achieving zero hunger, food and nutrition security, and sustainable agriculture. 'Through this, we can improve farm productivity, link farmers, fisherfolk, other food producers to larger markets, provide secure income-ensuring that our children, our mothers, our most vuln erable have access to nutritious food,' the President said. With the signing of the EPAHP JMC, 34 partners from national agencies to international organizations committed to realizing zero hunger in the Philippines. Marcos said engaging more partners 'to supply food items under the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), which underscores a partnership that goes beyond business-it is a true lifeline for our farmers and for our communities.' The EPAHP Program, one of the banner programs of the Task Force on Zero Hunger, is a collaborative initiative of multiple government agencies aiming to institutionalize efforts to mitigate hunger and promote food and nutrition security by linking community-based organizations (CBOs) to prospective markets, as well as providing credit assistance to support food production, processing and distribution. The Chief Executive thanked all program partners for their significant contributions to the initiative's success. 'We have yet to achieve zero hunger. But your dedication to this mission assures me that we are all united in this effort, ready to build a better nation for all, especially for those who need it the most,' President Marcos said. Source: Philippines News Agency