PLDT, Smart, and PBSP rev up food security collab with Mondelēz International

Parents from Don Galo and Fourth Estate Elementary Schools

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) join the annual celebration of the National Nutrition Month through their twin food security programs ‘Rice Together!’ and ‘Buy Local’. Aligned with this year’s theme, “New Normal na nutrisyon, sama-samang gawan ng solusyon!”, PLDT and Smart continue to work with likeminded organizations to implement programs that aim to help address hunger, combat malnutrition, and assist local food growers.  

Through their ‘Rice Together!’ program, PLDT and Smart supported Mondelēz International’s ‘Joy Schools’ during its pandemic implementation and supplemented the vegetables and other food products distributed to families with two kilograms of white rice for twenty weeks.  

A total of 6,000 packs or twelve tons of rice were provided, which were sourced by PLDT and Smart from their supported farming communities in Nueva Ecija, through the ‘Buy Local’ program.  

‘Buy Local’, another home-grown PLDT and Smart initiative, helps provide farmers a sure market for their crops. Through ‘Buy Local’, the Nueva Ecija farmers who harvested the twelve tons of rice generated sales of more than P500,000, part of which will eventually go to a sustainability fund lent to other farmers as low-interest loans for farm inputs.  

“PLDT and Smart aim to find ways to help achieve food security in the country by collaborating with other organizations. By supporting ‘Joy Schools’, we can help address malnutrition among children and immediate hunger, while at the same time provide local rice farmers with sure access to market. This shows that when different sectors come together for the common good, achieving the goal of food security becomes easier,” said Kristine Joyce Magadia, Stakeholder Management Lead for Livelihood of PLDT and Smart.

‘Joy Schools’ is a six-month feeding initiative implemented by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). Through the program, the snacks company provides nutritious food to students and their families in chosen parts of Metro Manila to help fight hunger.

Harvest from PLDT, Smart 'Buy Local' program 

The joint Rice Together and Joy Schools initiative reached 300 families from Balara Elementary School in Quezon City, and Don Galo Elementary School and Fourth Estate Elementary School in Paranaque City.

PLDT and Smart recognize the role of food security in improving the quality of life of communities and remain committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UNSDG 2 Zero Hunger.