The government is eyeing to establish national food stamp program through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) financing of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Monday, May 22.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
In a media interview, the Chief Executive disclosed the planned partnership of his administration with the ADB in implementing such program.
Marcos said he discussed this with ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and other senior ADB officials when asked about their meeting.
He was welcomed by Asakawa during a reception at ADB's headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Monday.
“One of the things that is in the pipeline, that is being developed, that is going to be of great assistance to our people is a proposal by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) for a food stamp program,” he told reporters.
Marcos added he was “surprised” the country has never had a food stamp program, but it "has been effective in other countries.”
It was DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian who brought up the idea of reviving the food stamp program nationwide to reduce hunger being experienced by poor Filipino families.
The program would provide low-income families with coupons that they can use to pay for food items and other necessities.
Several countries are successfully implementing food stamp programs, just like the United States.
Marcos said there are "so many opportunities" that the ADB provided to the Philippines, noting the bank is now the country's largest source of ODA financing.
The President said that the ADB has been an essential ally in the country’s development efforts as “they have been a robust and strong and reliable partner in the development of the Philippines.”