PUP works to ensure access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food for its academic community, recognizing that nourishment is key to student success and well-being. The University promotes sustainable food systems through responsible procurement, food waste monitoring, and support for local producers. Beyond campus, PUP empowers farmers through training, technology transfer, and community-based agricultural initiatives. Through research, extension, and multi-sectoral partnerships, PUP advances resilient and equitable food systems that support vulnerable learners and strengthen local communities.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines advances Zero Hunger by implementing comprehensive food sustainability measures, guided by its official Policy on Food Waste, supporting memos, and strict monitoring systems. Through the University Canteen Services and its partnership-driven initiatives, PUP successfully reduced total food waste by 28.47 kilograms in 2023, supported by daily waste tracking and improved inventory planning. The University also enforces a Composting Policy with an established composting site on campus, ensuring that vegetable trimmings and biodegradable waste documented in the monthly Food and Drinks Waste Reports are diverted toward soil enrichment rather than disposal.
The University reinforces its initiatives by grounding its programs in accurate population data, with 40,834.50 Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) recorded for SY 2023–2024, including 38,622.50 students, 1,427 faculty, and 785 administrative personnel. This baseline guides the implementation of targeted food security programs such as the University Canteen Food Waste Reduction Program, Campus Composting Policy, and Zero-Waste Procurement Measures in partnership with the University Catering Services Section. Supported by official PUP memos and policies, these initiatives ensure that food resources are efficiently managed and sustainably allocated to meet the needs of the entire campus population.
PUP strengthens its commitments through multi-sectoral programs such as Lingap Komunidad, which extends feeding and community support to partner barangays, and the Education on Wheels (EOW) initiative, where students consistently receive sponsored meals through the university’s long-term collaboration with the Megaworld Foundation. The university also supports local farmers by sourcing materials and sharing program documentation and photos, reinforcing community-based livelihood efforts. Campus-wide nutrition efforts include feeding programs, vegan and plant-based food activities showcased in events like Eco-Eats: Cultivating Sustainable Dining Solutions for a Greener Tomorrow, which promote healthier and sustainable eating habits among students and stakeholders . These combined initiatives ensure that food access, nutrition education, and sustainable food systems remain core to PUP’s student welfare and community engagement mission.
Sintang Paaralan strengthens its efforts by expanding access to nutritious and sustainable meals, including vegan and plant-based food options showcased across university canteens and concessionaire stalls, as evidenced in the 2023 Student & Employees Food Choices documentation. Programs such as Pitchfork to Spoon: A Sustainable Dining Experience, led by the Department of Hospitality Management under CTHTM, actively promote plant-based cooking and farm-to-table practices among students, faculty, and partner communities like Barangay 630. Through these initiatives, the university integrates health-conscious meal choices with environmental responsibility, fostering a campus culture that supports greener, more sustainable dining for all.
The university also upholds transparent reporting on food choices and sourcing practices, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and responsible procurement. Notably, PUP maintains affordable student meals priced between Php 50.00 (0.05$)and Php 70.00(1.19$), making nutritious, sustainably sourced food accessible to the entire campus community. Through these aligned initiatives, PUP promotes a food-secure, equitable, and environmentally conscious university ecosystem.
The University commitment through the transformative Education on Wheels (EOW) program, which delivers education and daily food support directly to underserved communities such as Tondo, Payatas, and Tatalon. With meals consistently provided throughout the academic year, the program combats hunger-related learning barriers and ensures the well-being of all 155 student-beneficiaries. This initiative is made possible through the long-term partnership with the Megaworld Foundation, which funds the “Foods and Refreshers” component, ensuring the sustainability of meal distribution during every face-to-face class. Through its integrated model of mobile learning and nutrition support, EOW demonstrates PUP’s commitment to inclusive, hunger-responsive, and community-empowering education.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines demonstrates a strong commitment to SDG 2 by integrating sustainable agriculture, food safety, nutritional education, and regulated campus food systems into its community development efforts. At the forefront is Project TECHNO Gabay, implemented with the Bagupaye Farmers Association in Mulanay, Quezon, where the BS Agribusiness Management program equips farmers with sustainable and organic farming techniques such as MOET, relay cropping, diversified farming, and value-added processing of products like radish cookies and cassava chips—strengthening food security and livelihoods in the province. Complementing this, the University Canteen Services and Nutrition Services conduct food safety workshops and hands-on training for students, while community food safety outreach sessions led by the College of Science and OVP Research raise wider public awareness on proper nutrition and hygiene. PUP also expands community access to production technologies through a shared food processing facility operated in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which supports micro, small, and medium enterprises in developing market-ready food products. Within campus, safe and nutritious food environments are ensured through the Policies and Guidelines for PUP Lagoon Food Stalls, mandating strict food handling, sanitation, monitoring, and accredited sourcing practices to protect student health and promote quality service. Together, these agricultural, educational, technological, and regulatory initiatives foster resilient food systems and advance long-term food security for both communities and the PUP campus.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines advances SDG 2 by upholding a procurement policy that prioritizes the purchase of local products from sustainable Philippine sources, guided by Republic Act 9184 and the New Government Procurement Act (RA 12009). The University ensures that all competitive public biddings integrate domestic preference, allowing local bidders to receive priority when their products meet the standards and are sourced from materials grown or produced in the Philippines, as outlined in the Philippine Bidding Documents and Sections 79.1 and 79.5–79.7 of the IRR. This commitment is further emphasized in PUP’s procurement guidelines, which guarantee transparency and sustainability in accordance with the national procurement framework. Through these aligned policies, PUP strengthens local economies, supports Filipino producers, and ensures that university purchases contribute to long-term food security and sustainable development.
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