One of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. In the Philippines food security has been a long-standing problem, with millions of children going hungry due to poverty and lack of access to food. Conversely, food waste is an environmental problem, as food materials that are thrown into the landfills decompose and release carbon dioxide, thereby contributing to the climate crisis.
Allianz PNB Life (AZPNBL) seeks to be part of the solution towards Zero Hunger by partnering with Scholars of Sustenance PH, a non-profit organization that rescues good quality surplus food to make nutritious meals available for the most vulnerable communities. Through this partnership, AZPNBL donated a food truck named “KaGat“, which the nonprofit was able to use for collecting and distributing meals to the communities. “KaGat“, which means “bite” in Filipino—reflects the company’s unwavering dedication to taking a substantial “bite” out of food waste and hunger.
To bring them closer to the communities, AZPNBL employees participated in a food drive and kitchen immersions, which had 1,500 beneficiaries composed of children in conflict with the law and their relatives in 2023 and participated in the 2023 KaGat Summit. This year, AZPNBL will continue supporting the SOS PH Food Rescue Program by investing time and talents of employees in two (2) food rescue and food drive activities, and as a partner of the Zero Summit Philippines. The summit rallies food industry leaders and sustainability advocates from academia, business, civil society, and government agencies towards the vision of ZERO food waste and ZERO hunger future.
Significant impact
The partnership between AZPNBL and SOS PH has already made a positive impact on the communities that they serve. Through Allianz-sponsored truck KaGat, Scholars of Sustenance Philippines has been able to rescue 286 tons of food which has curbed 779 tons of CO2 emissions. They have likewise distributed and served 1.2 million meals to more than 60 community partners.
With the support of Allianz and their sponsorship of KaGat, SOS has been able to reach various communities facing food insecurity, delivering much-needed meals directly to those in need. “This collaboration has enabled us to rescue surplus food efficiently, ensuring it doesn’t end up in landfills where it could cause significant environmental harm. This partnership is not only fighting hunger but also promoting sustainability and reducing our environmental footprint. It embodies our shared commitment to making a positive impact on both people and the planet. One of the key impacts of the Allianz-SOSPH partnership is that having a reputable name like Allianz associated with us serves as a “stamp of quality” for our work and organization as a whole,” says Arthur Winston Bitagcol, SOS Global Director of Operations.
AZPNBL Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer Gino Riola says, “We are proud to support this endeavor to end hunger among our vulnerable sectors and offer more access to good nutrition in our communities. With our mission to secure the future of the Filipino, we are tasked to do our part in ensuring more equitable access to food. Through the “KaGat” food truck we can take a bite out of hunger and replace it with hope.”
SOS PH is set to expand its reach this year with the Healthy School Meals Program that will provide nutritious meals to students, ensuring they can concentrate on their education, and the Rescue Farm Program which aims to reduce agricultural waste and support farmers simultaneously.
