The effects of food insecurity go beyond physical. Involuntary hunger has been a long standing problem in the Philippines, and during the pandemic, when millions lost their means of livelihood, this became more apparent with the surge of mental health concerns.
A study by University of Arkansas professors Di Fang, Michael Thomsen and Rodolfo Nayga Jr., published by BMC Public Health in March 2021, found that food insecurity caused by the pandemic was also associated with increased risk of mental illness.
It determined that “food insecurity is associated with a 257% higher risk of anxiety and a 253% higher risk of depression.” The study then recommended that public health measures should focus on getting direct subsidies of food purchases to poor families, especially families with children.
As the country continues to grapple with the detrimental effects of the pandemic, there is a need for urgent intervention. This is an imperative as the country comes out of the worst of the pandemic, with 3.1 million Filipino families saying they experienced involuntary hunger at least once, based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in the first quarter of the year.
Globe’s Hapag Movement provides a platform for anyone to help put food on the table of families experiencing involuntary hunger. It has mobilized multi-sectoral partners and came up with ways for customers to help through a few clicks on their mobile phones.
“The complex hunger problem leads to so many other social ills and requires collective action. Using new digital technologies, we can lend a hand easier as donating becomes very convenient. We are creating a multi-sectoral platform that provides sustainable solutions to help communities recover,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe.
The Hapag Movement’s integrated approach includes not just supplemental feeding activities, but also skills development and capacity building sessions. It also offers a micro-lending program to help jumpstart livelihood activities for Filipino families.
This is in line with Globe’s commitment to uphold the UN Global Compact Principles and contribute to 10 UN SDGs.
Globe customers can now help provide food for families in need every time they purchase Globe prepaid load or pay for their monthly Globe subscriptions. Each transaction lets customers earn Globe Rewards points which can be donated to The Hapag Movement for the alleviation of extreme hunger in the country.
