DSWD sets pilot run of food stamp program on July 18
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Published Jul 16, 2023 07:21 am
Come July 18, the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) will roll out the Marcos administration’s “Walang Gutom 2027” program, which would provide P3,000 a month to an initial 50 families in Tondo, Manila.
(Noel Pabalate/Manila Bulletin File Photo)
A statement from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) revealed that the Tuesday schedule would be the pilot run of the food stamp program for 50 families among the 3,000 identified as food-poor families nationwide.
The beneficiaries would each receive electronic benefit cards similar to tap cards. These are loaded with food credits instead of cash, and can be used to purchase items from accredited retailers, such as Kadiwa stores, groceries, and small supermarkets.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that they will study the effectiveness of the program during the pilot run.
The program intends to benefit one million food-poor families nationwide.
“After six months ng takbo ng programa, ng pilot, titingnan natin iyong resulta. Kung maganda iyong resulta, then we scale up, where it will be initially 300,000 na pamilya and then another 300,000 the year after hanggang sa maabot natin iyong isang milyong Pilipinong pamilya na food poor kung tawagin (After six months of the program, of the pilot, we will look at the results. If the results are good, then we will scale up, where it will be initially 300,000 families and then add another 300,000 the year after until we reach the one million Filipino families who are food poor as we call them),” Gatchalian said in a Quezon City news forum on Saturday, July 15.
To ensure the cards would be used as intended, their usage will also require biometrics.
This feature aims to eliminate the chances of buy-outs, similar to those in ATM cards.
“Ang layunin nito is to empower ang ating mahihirap na kababayan – ang mga food poor nating mga mamamayan na makapili nang tama na naaayon sa pangangailangan ng kanilang mga pamilya (The goal of this is to empower our poor countrymen — our food-poor countrymen to choose what their families need),” Gatchalian said.
The official shared that there are specific conditions for participants of the program, including adhering to restricted food items crafted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).
The food items to be purchased should be 50 percent carbohydrates sources, 30 percent protein sources, and 20 percent good fats sources.
Since the government intends to teach beneficiaries how to buy, cook, and eat nutritious food, they would also be required to attend nutrition development classes as part of the program’s social behavioral change.
Citing data that showed wrong food choices in households, the official stressed how these classes would address the issue of improper food consumption within households.
The DSWD also partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide reskilling opportunities and to enable participants to gain appropriate skills and certifications that will increase their chances of finding employment.
The DSWD’s food stamp pilot program has a funding of $3 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners.
The ADB and the World Food Program will jointly oversee the funds and procurement processes for the pilot run of the program.
To enable the continuation of the program in the coming years, Gatchalian said that there is already a P2.1-billion “line item” under next year’s budget.
(Noel Pabalate/Manila Bulletin File Photo)
A statement from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) revealed that the Tuesday schedule would be the pilot run of the food stamp program for 50 families among the 3,000 identified as food-poor families nationwide.
The beneficiaries would each receive electronic benefit cards similar to tap cards. These are loaded with food credits instead of cash, and can be used to purchase items from accredited retailers, such as Kadiwa stores, groceries, and small supermarkets.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that they will study the effectiveness of the program during the pilot run.
The program intends to benefit one million food-poor families nationwide.
“After six months ng takbo ng programa, ng pilot, titingnan natin iyong resulta. Kung maganda iyong resulta, then we scale up, where it will be initially 300,000 na pamilya and then another 300,000 the year after hanggang sa maabot natin iyong isang milyong Pilipinong pamilya na food poor kung tawagin (After six months of the program, of the pilot, we will look at the results. If the results are good, then we will scale up, where it will be initially 300,000 families and then add another 300,000 the year after until we reach the one million Filipino families who are food poor as we call them),” Gatchalian said in a Quezon City news forum on Saturday, July 15.
To ensure the cards would be used as intended, their usage will also require biometrics.
This feature aims to eliminate the chances of buy-outs, similar to those in ATM cards.
“Ang layunin nito is to empower ang ating mahihirap na kababayan – ang mga food poor nating mga mamamayan na makapili nang tama na naaayon sa pangangailangan ng kanilang mga pamilya (The goal of this is to empower our poor countrymen — our food-poor countrymen to choose what their families need),” Gatchalian said.
The official shared that there are specific conditions for participants of the program, including adhering to restricted food items crafted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).
The food items to be purchased should be 50 percent carbohydrates sources, 30 percent protein sources, and 20 percent good fats sources.
Since the government intends to teach beneficiaries how to buy, cook, and eat nutritious food, they would also be required to attend nutrition development classes as part of the program’s social behavioral change.
Citing data that showed wrong food choices in households, the official stressed how these classes would address the issue of improper food consumption within households.
The DSWD also partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide reskilling opportunities and to enable participants to gain appropriate skills and certifications that will increase their chances of finding employment.
The DSWD’s food stamp pilot program has a funding of $3 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners.
The ADB and the World Food Program will jointly oversee the funds and procurement processes for the pilot run of the program.
To enable the continuation of the program in the coming years, Gatchalian said that there is already a P2.1-billion “line item” under next year’s budget.