Proclamation No. 2120, issued on September 2, 1981, declares October 16 as "World Food Day" in the Philippines, to be observed annually. This initiative aligns with the Food and Agricultural Organization's goal to raise awareness about global food issues and promote solidarity against hunger and poverty. The proclamation emphasizes the importance of involving rural communities in development decisions and improving their living standards. A National Executive Committee, led by the First Lady and the Administrator of the National Food Authority, is established to oversee the observance of this day.
September 2, 1981
PROCLAMATION NO. 2120
DECLARING OCTOBER 16, 1981 AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER AS WORLD FOOD DAY IN THE PHILIPPINES AND HEREBY CREATING THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THEREOF
WHEREAS, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in its Resolution in November 1979 decided to celebrate and observe a World Food Day annually to start on October 16, 1981, commemorating the anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States;
WHEREAS, the observance of World Food Day is intended to heighten public awareness of the nature and dimensions of the long-term world food problem and to strengthen the sense of national and international solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty;
WHEREAS, the Republic of the Philippines, being a member-nation of FAO, in accepting its constitution, has undertaken "to promote separate and collective action for the purpose inter alia of raising levels of agricultural production, nutrition and standards of living, bettering the condition of rural population and ensuring humanity's freedom from hunger.";
WHEREAS, one of the objectives of World Food Day (WFD) is to promote participation by the rural masses in decisions and measures affecting their development with a view of closing the gap between actual and potential yields, to promoting greater self-reliance and to improving living standards for the rural poor;
WHEREAS, FAO is requesting every government to appoint a national WFD Committee responsible for organizing and preparing for World Food Day;
WHEREAS, the National Food Authority is the most logical focal point of the World Food Day considering the magnitude of its functions, objectives and commitments towards the public with regard to food.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare October 16, 1981 and every date of the year thereafter, as "World Food Day" in the Philippines. For this purpose, a National Executive Committee is hereby created to be headed by the First Lady and Minister of Human Settlements as Honorary Chairperson and the Administrator of the National Food Authority as Chairman who is hereby empowered to choose the Members from among government and non-government agencies with the National Food Authority as the lead Agency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed. casia
DONE in the City of Manila, this 2nd day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-One.
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 77 No. 42, 5424-1 Supp., on October 19, 1981.