The Philippines, known for its resilience and warmth, faces a pressing issue: hunger and malnutrition.
To combat this pressing challenge, the Philippine National Government, under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has taken decisive action with the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to launch the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) – a program that aims to reduce involuntary hunger and enhance nutritional well-being among low-income Filipino households.
This initiative is a flagship effort of the national government that seeks to address involuntary hunger by providing household beneficiaries with food assistance and encouraging them to become more productive citizens. The household beneficiaries were selected from the country’s poorest households and identified using the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction data.
The beneficiaries receive monthly monetary assistance through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which contains P3,000 worth of non-cash-convertible food credits. Household beneficiaries can use the EBT card to buy nutritious food items from DSWD-accredited local stores, supermarkets, Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets, and other merchants.
The program sets a spending limit for each household to ensure access to a diverse range of nutritious foods where a portion of the budget should be allocated for carbohydrate-rich items such as rice and bread, protein-rich foods, including chicken and pork, and for fiber-rich options like fruits and vegetables. This structured allocation promotes a balanced and healthy diet, enhancing the beneficiaries’ confidence in the program’s nutritional benefits.
The program goes beyond mere food distribution; it adopts a holistic approach aimed at empowering families and tackling the root causes of food insecurity. This includes monthly nutrition education sessions that equip families with the skills to prepare nutritious, affordable, and delicious meals. These sessions foster positive behavioral changes and encourage healthy eating habits. Additionally, participants have the opportunity to attend the Skills and Productivity Enhancement Sessions, where they receive job skills training provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), leading to job placement opportunities facilitated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Nationwide effort
Initially piloted in five areas, the program has expanded significantly and now encompasses 22 priority provinces across 10 regions. The DSWD aims to issue EBT cards to one million households by 2027.
As per the 2021 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has identified approximately 1.04 million families in the Philippines as “food-poor.” The DSWD used this number as a reference when it targeted one million beneficiaries for the Walang Gutom Program over the next three years.
A beneficiary of the Walang Gutom Program provides his neighborhood in San Guillermo, Isabela, with healthy food during Food Redemption. The DSWD program regularly distributes food to combat hunger and malnutrition in the country. Photo courtesy: DSWD Walang Gutom Program FB page
The PSA defines a family of five earning less than P9,581 per month as “food-poor.” This translates to a meager daily budget of roughly P63 per person, leaving them with just about P21 to spend on each meal.
One beneficiary, Glenda Villanueva, shared: “This program has been a huge help for my family. We can now afford to buy more nutritious food for our children, and we don’t have to worry about going hungry anymore.”
Collaborative vision
The Walang Gutom Program represents a significant commitment to addressing hunger in the Philippines. Its success is bolstered by a collaborative effort among the government, civil society organizations, and the private sector, instilling hope in the audience about the program’s potential success.
By working together, the stakeholders can ensure the program’s effectiveness, sustainability, and long-term impact. This initiative holds the potential to provide immediate relief for those experiencing food insecurity and contribute to a more equitable and food-secure future for the Philippines.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have partnered with the DSWD to implement the scaled-up Walang Gutom Program, providing operational and financial support.
Making a difference, one family at a time. The Walang Gutom Program (WGP) has verified 125 individuals in Tabuelan, Cebu, bringing vital support to those in need. (Photo source: DSWD Walang Gutom FB Page)
The other government agencies providing support for the program’s implementation include the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Nutrition Council (NNC), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DEPED), and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Empowering families, building a brighter future.
On December 16, 2024, the Walang Gutom Program announced the successful achievement of its initial goal to reach 300,000 household beneficiaries where each household will continue to receive ₱3,000 worth of food credits monthly, ensuring food security for vulnerable families across the country.
The program is set to accommodate an additional 300,000 beneficiaries in 2025 and 150,000 more in 2026. By 2027, the program aims to support one million households nationwide.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a recent sectoral meeting at Malacañang, highlighted the program’s success in reducing food poverty. “We are doing a better job of feeding people who need it,” he said, underscoring the government’s commitment to addressing hunger and poverty.
With its comprehensive approach and steadfast implementation, the Walang Gutom Program symbolizes hope and resilience, charting a path toward a future where no Filipino household goes hungry.
