DSWD eyeing significant hike in food stamp program beneficiaries

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday bared  plans to add more beneficiaries to its Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP) by July 2024.

According to DSWD Assistant Secretary Baldr Bringas, the department plans to have one million beneficiaries by 2027.

“Ang plano po natin is by July, makapag-scale up na tayo from 3,000 to 300,000 beneficiaries. Mag-rurun for another year. So the following year, we will add another 300,000, so that will total 600,000 beneficiaries for 2025,” Bringas said at the DSWD’s Thursday Media Forum streamed on its Facebook page.

(We could scale up by 3,000 to 300,000 beneficiaries by July, then it will run for another year. So by the following year, we will add another 300,000, so that will total 600,000 beneficiaries for 2025.)

“By 2027, hopefully, ma-onboard na natin yung 1 million beneficiaries,” he added.

(By 2027, hopefully, we will have one million beneficiaries.)

The DSWD said that the FSP program has 2,285 registered beneficiaries from Tondo, Manila; San Mariano, Isabela; Dapa, Siargao; Gachitorena, Camarines Sur; and Parang, Maguindanao.

Bringas added that the DSWD also plans to add more accredited partners in the FSP, particularly the farmers.

READ: ‘Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program’ declared major gov’t project

“Kaya po gusto natin itong gawin kasi iniimplement po natin ang program na hindi lang po isang grupo o isang sector ang natutulungan natin kundi maraming sector ng ating society. Sa one side natutulungan natin ang poorest of the poor na households sa ating bansa and at the same time, natutulungan din natin ang isa rin sa pinakamahihirap na sector, ang ating mga kapatid na mga magsasaka,” Bringas added.

(We want to do this because we are implementing a program so that we can help not only one group or sector but many sectors of our society. On one side, we help the poorest of the poor households of our country and at the same time, we help members of one of the poorest sectors, our farmers)

In October, the Malacañang issued an executive order declaring the FSP as a flagship program to help reduce involuntary hunger by allowing beneficiaries to purchase food using issued cards.