The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) piloted its new batch of Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP) to new beneficiaries in Tondo, Manila.

In a statement, Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the distribution on Dec. 22 of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to around 330 beneficiaries at the redemption venue in Delpan.

In addition, 400 beneficiaries under the scale-up pilot implementation of the FSP in Tondo purchased P3,000 worth of food items from Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls last Dec. 21.

"This program is a response to President Marcos's promise to make sure that no Filipino goes hungry," the DSWD chief said.

Gatchalian also pointed out that the FSP is a "priority program" of the Marcos administration to ensure food security.

“Bagamat pasimula lamang ito, tatakbo ito nang tuloy-tuloy. Ito ay hindi lang pamasko ng Pangulo kundi tugon sa kanyang pangako na by the time na matapos limang taon mula ngayon, dapat wala ng mahirap na Pilipino at dapat wala ng gutom na Pilipino. (Although this is just the beginning, the program will run continuously. This is not just the President’s Christmas treat but a response to his promise that five years from now, there should be no poor Filipinos and there should be no hungry Filipinos), he said.

In an interview, the chief noted that 330 families in Tondo are part of a pilot program targeting 3,000 pilot beneficiary households across five locations --- aside from Tondo, Manila FSP includes Siargao Island, San Mariano in Isabela, Garchitorena in Camarines Sur, and Parang in Maguindanao.

If successful, he stressed that the program will scale up to 300,000 until it reaches one million families nationwide.

Furthermore, the department said that the pilot implementation for the new batch of FSP beneficiaries will run for six months until May 2024.