Food stamp program starts in 4 Eastern Visayas provinces

At least 48,000 food stamp program beneficiaries in four Eastern Visayas provinces will receive P3,000 per month until 2027. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY — At least 48,000 individuals, considered to be among the “poorest of the poor” from four provinces in Eastern Visayas, will receive P3,000 per month until 2027 as beneficiaries of the government’s food stamp program.

Of the 48,261 targeted beneficiaries of the food stamp program, 5,073 will come from Northern Samar; 12,258 from Samar; 7,618 from Eastern Samar; and 23,312 from Leyte.

The other two provinces in the region – Biliran and Southern Leyte  – were not included as they were no longer considered food-poor provinces.

The national government allocated P5.21 billion to cover the three-year implementation of the food stamp program until 2027.

The food stamp program had a soft launch in the region in the town of Palo, Leyte on July 18, according to lawyer Jonalyndie Chua, information officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

READ: Food stamps for poor families

Chua explained that the beneficiaries were identified through their “Listahan,” or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), which is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country.

“While the program aims to address hunger and malnutrition among our identified beneficiaries, the beauty of this food stamp program is that it will also help our local farmers,” she said in an interview.

Chua said their retailer partners can source products like rice, fruits, and vegetables from local farmers.

READ: ‘Walang Gutom’: 300,000 more families getting food stamps

Under the program, the beneficiaries will receive an electronic beneficiary transfer card worth P3,000, which they will use exclusively for food purchases: 50 percent for go foods (carbohydrates), 30 percent for grow foods (protein), and 20 percent for glow foods (fruits and vegetables).

“They must spend the entire amount of P3,000 on food items only. This way, we aim to address hunger and malnutrition,” Chua said.

She also mentioned that members of the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) and senior citizens are not included in the food stamp program.