TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) — The municipality of San Mariano in Isabela province was chosen as one of the five areas in the country for the pilot implementation of the ‘Food Stamp Program’ (FSP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

During the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the DSWD and the local government of San Mariano on January 15, DSWD Regional Director Lucia Alan said that the municipality was chosen due to it being a Geographically Isolated Area with higher need for food assistance. 

The other four pilot sites are Tondo, Manila; Dapa, Siargao; Garchitorena, Camarines Sur; and Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

It can also be noted that during the pilot implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and other major programs of the agency, San Mariano was also one of the chosen municipalities nationwide according to Alan.

DSWD Undersecretary Eduardo M. Punay, who personally attended the signing, said the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” is one of the major programs of the DSWD, which aims to decrease the incidence of voluntary hunger experienced by low-income households by providing monetary-based assistance through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that can be used in purchasing select food commodities from eligible partner merchant stores.

It was established through Executive Order No. 44 and was created by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. 

The undersecretary added that beneficiaries of the program can use the card to purchase food from accredited and partner merchants.

“The Food Stamp Program does not only aim to address the issue of the lack of food and resources but also the issue of malnutrition because DSWD aims to help the Filipinos, from womb to tomb. That’s why our agency hopes for a successful collaboration with LGU San Mariano to accomplish this responsibility,” Punay added.

Its implementation is in line with the Philippines’ commitment to realize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 2 of ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030.

Attendance at the monthly Nutrition Education Sessions is one of the conditions for FSP beneficiaries to regularly receive their monthly food credit of P3,000.

Mayor Edgar T. Go said the FSP will not only benefit the intended beneficiaries, but the whole people of San Mariano. 

“Farmers and micro-entrepreneurs will have a chance to serve the people while enhancing their livelihood,” he said. (OTB/MDCT/PIA Cagayan)