Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez has vowed adequate funding for the Marcos administration’s Walang Gutom (No Hunger) Program under the 2026 national budget.

Romualdez--believed to be a shoo-in for House Speaker in the 20th Congress--emphasized that no Filipino should go hungry in a nation full of promise and potential.

“Hindi ito basta proyekto ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos (This isn't a simple project of our President Bongbong Marcos). His vision of a hunger-free Philippines under the Walang Gutom program is a promise of dignity, a pledge of compassion, and a commitment to bring real change to every Filipino family struggling to put food on the table,” he said.

Romualdez remarks comes after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced plans to expand the Walang Gutom program from its current reach of 300,000 households to 750,000 food-poor families by next year.

The program provides ₱3,000 worth of monthly food credits through an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase select food items from accredited merchants.

The 300-plus strong House of Representatives crafts the annual General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget based on Malacañang's National Expenditure Program (NEP). The budget deliberations are expected to begin in August.

Romualdez praised President Marcos for making hunger eradication a pillar of the Bagong Pilipinas vision.

“Makikita mo ang puso ng ating Pangulo sa programang ito. Ang laban sa gutom ay hindi lamang polisiya kundi personal niyang misyon. Walang pamilyang Pilipino ang dapat maiwan sa laylayan ng lipunan,” the veteran House leader said.

(You can see the heart of our President in this program. The fight against hunger is not just a matter of policy—it is his personal mission. No Filipino family should be left on the margins of society.)

Romualdez also cited the critical coordination between DSWD and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in implementing the complementary “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program, which makes ₱20 per kilo rice available at selected Kadiwa stores and partner retailers—primarily to Walang Gutom beneficiaries.

He stressed that expanding Walang Gutom means investing not only in subsidies but in the full value chain—from farmer support to nutrition education.

“Kung gusto nating wakasan ang gutom, kailangang suportado ang magsasaka sa produksyon, ang mamimili sa abot-kayang presyo, at ang bawat pamilya sa kaalaman at kabuhayan. Hindi sapat ang ayuda—kailangan ito’y tulay tungo sa kaunlaran,” Romualdez said.

(If we want to end hunger, we must support farmers in production, ensure affordable prices for consumers, and empower every family with knowledge and livelihood. Aid alone is not enough—it must serve as a bridge toward progress.)

He urged fellow lawmakers to rally behind the 2026 GAB to provide both the DSWD and DA with the resources needed to meet the program’s growing goals.