Lawmakers say P3,000 food aid not enough, but it’s a good start

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin

MANILA, Philippines — While several lawmakers have admitted that the P3,000 monthly assistance for the government’s food stamp program is not enough, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said the measure is a good start.

Garin herself, during a press briefing on Tuesday, noted that P3,000 aid under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is not enough to cover poor Filipinos’ food needs for a month.

However, she stressed that the program is only one of the initiatives taken under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

READ: Workers earning no more than P23,000 monthly to get P5,000 aid – House

“It’s really not enough, the P3,000 aid, but the good thing is this was started under the BBM administration because the creation of a food stamp program has been a long-time request, but it was only implemented now.  So, in other words, it might not be enough, but it’s a good start,” Garin said.

“But then it’s not the only program so we know that it can increase later on. But what is important is that the food stamp program is just one of the things offered […] We also have the AKAP (Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program) which was belittled early on, and why are we stopping this, but we’re very thankful for the leadership of the House and for DSWD for fighting for this,” she added.

READ: DSWD food stamp program eyes 300,000 beneficiaries next year

Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman also said that P3,000 is just a supplemental amount, noting that a higher budget would depend on available appropriations.

“P3,000 is only supplemental, it means that we’re not expecting that would actually cover the meal expenses, it’s only an additional fund.  Of course we want bigger allocations but that will depend on appropriations, if there is money. At this moment we’re talking about three thousand because this is what is available for the moment,” Roman said.

“Of course, we welcome that because this is a big help to the poorest the poor families where food is actually a problem. But then again as you say our goal here in Congress is of course to provide immediate relief, but also to look for long term solutions like the rice tariffication law (amendments),” she added.

READ: Gov’t food stamp program in full blast by July

Earlier, the House committee on social services approved an unnumbered substitute bill to House Bills No. 8532, 8899, 10010, and 10202—all of which seek to strengthen the DSWD’s Walang Gutom: Food Stamp Program.

According to committee chairperson and Nueva Ecija Rep. Ria Vergara, the bill is an important step towards eradicating hunger as although the food stamp program is already being implemented, it is still in a pilot program stage.

Under the program, qualified beneficiaries can use ‘food stamps’ or credits in an electronic benefit transfer to purchase food items through accredited retailers.  The retailers sell healthy food at a combination of 50-30-20 according to Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Baldr Bringas—50 percent for carbs, 30 percent for protein, and 20 percent for fruits and vegetables

Bringas in an ambush interview after the committee hearing said that they are looking at covering 300,000 beneficiaries by July, when the program goes into a full-scale implementation.

However, budget limitations mean that only 100,000 beneficiaries would be served if the Department of Budget and Management does not give additional funding—something that institutionalizing the program can address.