More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to feel paralyzed by the challenges we are facing

in the Philippines. Many are suffering from the effects of the pandemic, especially children. Not being
able to go to school, lacking access to essential health and nutrition services, the effect of this pandemic
will be felt especially by Filipino children until they grow up to become adults. And so more than ever,
the poverty and hunger in the Philippines has becoming worse and worse each day.

They are 3 things that I can think of for us to be able to lessen this situation; we PROVIDE, we OFFER,
and we SERVE.

What we can provide? Creating more jobs, governments zero-interest development financing, grants,
and guarantees.

As an architect student I see Philippines with many possibilities reagridng on its tourism. Utilizing what
we have in our nature and what can architect can do. Can bring the most spectacular and most amazing
tourist destinations you can think of. By this, Tourism is a driver of job growth and economic prosperity,
that can provide thousands of filipino people a decent job and aiding poverty and hunger at the same
time.

Urge a transformation of food systems to reduce the cost of nutritious foods and increase the
affordability of healthy diets. Tap on Governments to mainstream nutrition in their approaches to
agriculture; work to cut cost-escalating factors in the production, storage, transport, distribution and
marketing of food – including by reducing inefficiencies and food loss and waste; support local small-
scale producers to grow and sell more nutritious foods, and secure their access to markets; prioritize
children’s nutrition as the category in greatest need; foster behaviour change through education and
communication; and embed nutrition in national social protection systems and investment strategies.

Consequently, we have an international organization that helping third-world countries, such as the
Philippines. The International Development Association (IDA) is the part of the World Bank that helps
the world’s poorest countries. Established in 1960, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing zero to low-
interest loans (called “credits”) and grants for programs that boost economic growth, reduce
inequalities, and improve people’s living conditions.

IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 74 poorest countries and is the single
largest source of donor funds for basic social services in these countries. IDA lends money on
concessional terms. This means that IDA credits have a zero or very low interest charge and repayments
are stretched over 30 to 40 years. More than half of IDA countries receive all, or half, of their IDA
resources on grant terms, which carry no repayments at all. These grants are targeted to the low-income
countries at higher risk of debt distress.

What we can offer, to offer efficient and sufficient technical assistance and other advisory services.
Nonetheless, how we cam fight hunger and poverty without prioritizing our health.

Government health centers are few and far between, not to mention the lack of funds to run them
properly. Half of Filipinos don’t have access to a nearby primary care facility — one that patients can
reach in 30 minutes, according to the Department of Health (DoH). The Philippines had 216,841
community health workers, based on government data from 2010. In addition, people are also unaware
of these benefits of they can receive from the government. Hence, we need to open platforms that had
wide range of audiences for to be all informed, and be beneficiary to all this.
And lastly we serve, I know that we have different jobs or status in life, but we can all be a volunteer. For
me this is the best way to fight poverty and hunger. When imagining charity or volunteer work, the very
first thought is often donation. It can be a simple and easy way of fighting poverty. The best part is the
donor gets to pick the charity, and thus, the effect they wish to make. For instance, if someone wants to
improve access to water in underdeveloped nations, they could donate to the UNICEF., RED CROSS
organization, or even The Thirst Project. These nonprofit organizations aim to provide water, shelter,
and other necessities to impoverished nations.

Additionally, the donation doesn’t necessarily have to be monetary; other companies accept food,
clothes, toys, household items—anything that might be useful to a family or person in need.

As fillipino and a global citizen, if we ARE together everyones, achieves success.

You know what, I’ve experienced it myself, what poverty and hunger looks like. I came from a humble
beginnings, and only a fire and coal is the means of our cooking. I remember, I once got injured for
burns in my butt because I sat on a burning coal placed over on a chair. I sometimes do have no food
going to school because of our situation that time. And everyone of our family shares the same bed. But
everything change, because of hard-work, and dedication of my family to strive harder and be better in
life. And now I am a DOST scholar, an architect student, and soon to become an SK chairman in our
barangay. That will help to become an asset of the global community and inspire others to do the same.
But you know what, what ive realized the hardwork is just one of the most important ingredients to
achieve success. In today’s world, hardwork is just not enough to succeed, there is more to success than
just working hard everyday. To aid the hunger and poverty, we need solutions that is strategic and
concrete, I know it seems very hard to depicts the good situation, but all great things start with small
steps.