The University of Batangas Lipa City (UBLC) served as the venue for the Batangas Hunger Conference 2025 on November 22, 2025. bringing together partners, advocates, and community leaders in observance of the World Day of the Poor. Organized by the Archdiocese of Lipa through the Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Commission, Inc. (LASAC), the conference centered on the theme “Building Resilient Partnerships to Achieve Zero Hunger.” The event aimed to strengthen collaborative efforts to address hunger and promote sustainable, community-driven solutions across Batangas.
The gathering formed part of the annual celebration of the World Day of the Poor, a Roman Catholic observance instituted by Pope Francis in 2016 and held every 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The day calls on Christian communities to confront the realities of poverty, practice acts of mercy, and demonstrate solidarity with the marginalized. In the Archdiocese of Lipa, LASAC leads this observance by organizing programs and initiatives that uplift indigent families and promote long-term social transformation.
During the conference at UBLC, participants discussed commitments to combating hunger through charity, justice, and collaborative action. Presentations and exchanges focused on strengthening education reforms and expanding public-private partnerships that contribute to food security and community development. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring that vulnerable households have access to adequate and nourishing food.
LASAC also emphasized its ongoing efforts beyond the conference. These include coordinating food distributions through “Kindness Stations” and “Care-Avan” missions, as well as launching livelihood programs designed to provide sustainable income opportunities for impoverished families. At the parish level, various activities were likewise held throughout the archdiocese to mark the World Day of the Poor.
The Batangas Hunger Conference 2025 underscored the continuing mission of the Archdiocese of Lipa and its partners to confront hunger with compassion, collaboration, and action. By uniting stakeholders at UBLC, the initiative reinforced the call to build resilient partnerships that advance human dignity and move communities closer to a hunger-free future.
In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), UBLC’s initiatives reflect a steadfast commitment to No Poverty (UNSDG 1) and Zero Hunger (UNSDG 2), while exemplifying the power of Partnerships for the Goals (UNSDG 17) through strategic collaboration with local communities, private sectors, and faith-based organizations. These efforts demonstrate the University’s dedication to sustainable social impact and highlight its role as a catalyst for transformative change in promoting equitable access to resources, food security, and resilient, community-centered development.