DSWD food stamp program set for full pilot launch in December
Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay talks to beneficiaries of the Marcos administration’s flagship project, Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program, during its dry run implementation in Tondo, Manila, on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. | PHOTO: office of Usec. Punay
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it plans to launch the “full blast” test run of the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program this coming December.
DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay disclosed this information during the 3rd Nutrition Education Session and 4th Redemption Day of food stamps by pilot beneficiaries in Tondo, Manila, on October 18.
“Right now, we are doing the pilot implementation. Three thousand families sa loob ng limang (in five) pilot sites ang ating (is our) target, and we will go full blast sa (in the) pilot implementation come December,” he said as quoted in a statement released by DSWD on Thursday.
READ: Food stamps: Staving off hunger until lasting solution is found
Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay checks the vegetables at a mobile Kadiwan store during the pilot implementation of Marcos administration’s flagship project, Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program, in Tondo, Manila, on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. | PHOTO: office of Usec. Punay
The six-month preliminary dry run of the food stamp program started on July 18 in Tondo, involving 50 families.
Under this initial scheme, each family was given an electronic benefit transfer card loaded with P3,000 worth of food credit per month.
READ: ‘Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program’ declared major gov’t project
These cards can only be used in Kadiwa stores and DSWD-accredited groceries and small supermarkets.
Punay stressed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 44, which declares the food stamp program a flagship government initiative, would ensure funding and inter-agency cooperation to make the program successful.
