Country Projects: Philippines

Overview

The movement to create a food banking system in the Philippines began in 2007. Second Harvest Japan—a GFN member food bank—has been instrumental in helping create a model that is appropriate within the Filipino culture and to build support for its development.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 18 percent of Filipino children under age five are under weight, and 18 percent of the total population is undernourished.

GFN’s Involvement

GFN provided scholarships for delegates from the Philippines to attend the 2008 and 2009 H-E-B/GFN Food Bank Leadership Institute. Our staff members met with key leaders of the nation’s food and grocery industry, and we have provided significant long-distance mentoring. We expect the first food bank in the country to commence operations within 6-12 months, following some in-country technical support by our field team.