CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) -- A total of 454 beneficiaries of the Food Stamp Program or the 'Walang Gutom 2027' hunger mitigation agenda of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have already received their electronic benefit transfer cards.

The beneficiaries are from San Mariano, Isabela, the selected pilot area for the implementation of the hunger mitigation program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos' administration in Cagayan Valley.

The program aims to provide food to marginalized families through eligible partner merchant stores in the locality as provided for under Executive Order No. 44.

DSWD Undersecretary Eduardo M. Punay, together with Regional Director Lucia Alan, led the distribution of the e-cards to the beneficiaries. 

Punay advised the beneficiaries to use the e-transfer cards solely for its intended purpose. 

Each of the electronic benefit transfer cards is loaded with P3,000 food credits for payment to food purchases in DSWD-accredited retail stores. Fifty percent is allotted for carbohydrate-rich food, 30 percent for protein, and 20 percent for fruits and vegetables.

Alan also said that aside from the benefit of the program toward hunger mitigation and poverty alleviation, the project will also help local farmers as they are the priority suppliers for the food choices under the program. 

She said farm-driven stores and other local merchants are among the accredited food retailers enrolled in the hunger mitigation initiative, especially the 'Kadiwa ng Pangulo' outlets.

Nestor Alejo, a 52-year-old beneficiary, expressed his gratitude to the department for selecting their town as one of the beneficiaries of the program. 

“Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa programang ito ng gobyerno. Malaki ang tulong nito bilang dagdag sa aming araw-araw na pangangailangan sa pagkain. (We are very thankful for this program of the government. This will help augment our daily food needs),” Alejo said.

He said the food stamp program is a great help to families with no regular income to ensure their children's good health and nutrition. 

San Mariano town is one of the remote municipalities of Isabela province located within the Sierra Madre mountain range. It is also one of the insurgency-afflicted towns in the region. (OTB/MGE / PIA Isabela)