DSWD food stamp program eyes 300,000 beneficiaries next year

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is eyeing 300,000 beneficiaries for its food stamps program by the middle of next year, as it targets to expand the program after its pilot implementation, which started this year.

Edu Punay, undersecretary for innovations of the DSWD, said this was part of their plan to “scale up” the implementation of what was declared by President Marcos as his administration’s “flagship” program.

For the “full run” of the program’s pilot implementation, which will take place from December this year to May next year, Punay said the agency will select 3,000 beneficiaries.

After that period, he said the number of beneficiaries will grow even bigger, with a plan to have 300,000 beneficiaries that are set to be included in the program by July of 2024.

With the number being plotted by the DSWD, Punay noted that they are eyeing to have at least 600,000 beneficiaries by 2025, building up to the 1 million target families.

“Our implementation will be in phases and we won’t rush it,” Punay told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. “We have designed an implementation plan for this.”

Via QR code

As part of the “scaling up” implementation of the program, Punay said they would also identify in the process other possible modes to deliver the program, instead of just relying on food stamp cards.

According to Punay, there is a possibility that the food stamps can be used through a QR code and could eventually lead to the omission of the cards during the pilot implementation.

The agency earlier announced that the food stamps program would be provided through a card containing 3,000 food points, renewable every month.

If a family will not be able to spend all 3,000 food points, it will be carried over to the next month.

These can be used in government-accredited retail stores, including the Kadiwa stores and even some big groceries.