MANILA -- In line with the Marcos administration’s Walang Gutom 2027 program, the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) has set the pilot run of the food stamp program on July 18 in Tondo, Manila, benefitting an initial of 50 families among the 3,000 identified as food poor families nationwide.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that the program is still in its pilot run to study the effectiveness of the program for the targeted one million food poor families nationwide under the agency’s Listahanan.
“After six months ng takbo ng programa, ng pilot, titingnan natin iyong resulta. Kung maganda iyong resulta, then we scale up, where it will be initially 300,000 na pamilya and then another 300,000 the year after hanggang sa maabot natin iyong isang milyong Pilipinong pamilya na food poor kung tawagin,” Gatchalian said in a news forum on Saturday in Quezon City.
Upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s directives, the “Walang Gutom 2027″ program will cater to eligible families who will receive electronic benefit cards similar to tap cards, loaded with food credits instead of cash.
They can use these cards at accredited retailers, such as Kadiwa stores, groceries, and small supermarkets.
Purchasing using the cards will also require biometrics as part of its security features to ensure that the beneficiaries are directly using the provisions of the program.
This feature will also eliminate the chances of buy-outs, similar to those in ATM cards.
“Ang layunin nito is to empower ang ating mahihirap na kababayan – ang mga food poor nating mga mamamayan na makapili nang tama na naaayon sa pangangailangan ng kanilang mga pamilya,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian also discussed specific conditions for participants of the program, including adhering to a restricted menu.
The menu of available food items has been carefully crafted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), with 50 percent allotted for carbohydrates sources, 30 percent for protein sources, and 20 percent for sources of good fats.
Beneficiaries are also required to attend nutrition development classes to address the issue of improper food consumption within households.
“Gusto nating maturuan ang ating mga kababayan lalo na iyong mga food poor nating mga kababayan na bumili ng tamang pagkain, magluto ng tamang pagkain para over the past next four years na part sila ng program iyong social behavioral change – kasi ayon sa datos ang mga Pilipino marami pa ring maling mga pagkain na kinukunsumo,” the DSWD chief added.
The DSWD is expecting that participants who have improved their nutritional intake will be encouraged to seek employment.
The DSWD has partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide reskilling opportunities, enabling participants to gain appropriate skills and certifications, increasing their chances of finding employment.
The pilot program has a funding of $3-million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners, Gatchalian said.
The ADB and the World Food Program will jointly oversee the funds and procurement processes for the pilot run of the program.
Gatchalian assured that the government is securing funds for the continuation of the program in the coming years.
“For next year, may line item na tayo na nakalagay sa national expenditure program. It’s under Walang Gutom 2027, the Philippine food stamp program. Mayroon siyang initial earmarking na 2.1 billion,” he said.
The program also seeks to support local farmers by ensuring that their products are bought by the beneficiaries rather than going to waste. (PND)
