DSWD-13 elaborates “Walang Gutom 2027” in Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
AGUSAN DEL SUR -- The 'Walang Gutom 2027" Program, formerly known as "Food Stamp" Program, of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga was one of the highlights of discussion during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga on June 11 in Butuan City.
DSWD
Caraga Dir. Mari-Flor A. Dollaga explained that the "Walang Gutom
2027" program, is a flagship initiative of the national government
stating, "This program alleviates voluntary hunger among low-income
families by providing an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card with P3,000
worth of food credits. These cards hold credits that can be used to purchase
various food items from participating merchants, eliminating the need for
physical stamps or coupons. Eligible households receive monthly food credits
tailored to their family size and income level, which are loaded onto the EBT
card.”
Dollaga added that partner merchants, including supermarkets, offer a variety
of food items such as rice, vegetables, meat, and essential goods that can be
purchased using the EBT card. Beneficiaries also have the option to monitor
their transactions and remaining credits through the EBT card system.
It can be
recalled that after a successful trial run in Dapa, Surigao del Norte,
involving 369 beneficiaries, the Walang Gutom 2027 program is now being
expanded to the provincial level as it identified 1,376 household
beneficiaries in Surigao del Norte.
"The
Walang Gutom 2027 program is the top priority under the administration of our
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aiming to end hunger and address
malnutrition. Our President ensures that no Filipino goes hungry and the beneficiaries
have access to food. No one goes to bed without eating food, and he also
ensures that the available food is healthy for consumption," she said.
“Walang
Gutom 2027 is not a rollout. Unlike the other programs, Walang Gutom 2027 has
five key features and one is optional as it has a corresponding
obligation as the program beneficiary. They must attend the various training
sessions and look for a job after they receive the training to sustain them and
earn and provide for their families, which represents the program's
success," she added.
This
initiative is the administration's top priority as it aims to mitigate the
severe challenges of poverty by extending food credits to those most in need.
The goals of this program are mitigating involuntary hunger and malnutrition
within low-income families, enhancing access to nutritious food for households
below the poverty threshold, and fostering sustainable agriculture by
supporting local farmers and producers.
Also,
accompanying the director were Jessie Catherine B. Aranas, chief of the
Protective Services Division, Crislea D. Celeste, chief of the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Division, Aldie May A. Andoy, chief of the
Disaster Response Management Division, and Raffy C. Vigil, the regional program
coordinator of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated
Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDDS), who also shared the significant
information about the department's core programs and explained how the target
beneficiaries get the benefits due for them.
The Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas is a nationwide synchronized event spearheaded by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), in partnership with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). The episode is aired live in the Facebook pages of PIA every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. (KKG/JPG, PIA-Agusan del Sur)
