By Xander Ledesma
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has expanded the “Walang Gutom Program” to the provinces of Iloilo and Antique, aiming to assist poor households through food stamps and electronic benefit transfers (EBTs).
The program, initially targeting Negros Occidental, now includes 10,560 households in Iloilo and 4,337 in Antique, in addition to 28,124 in Negros Occidental. The expansion was prompted by the inability to meet the initial target of 43,021 households in Western Visayas due to many beneficiaries already enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“The DSWD provides EBT cards loaded with PHP3,000 monthly food credits. These credits can be used to purchase essential food items from accredited retailers,” explained Fabelino Bendoy, Project Development Officer III, during a press conference on Friday.
Validation efforts are ongoing and expected to conclude next week. As of November 26, 35,695 households, or about 90% of the target beneficiaries, have been validated. DSWD Regional Director Arwin Razo clarified that 4Ps members are excluded from the Walang Gutom Program under its guidelines.
In Negros Occidental, 16,426 families have already redeemed their EBT cards as of November 15, purchasing food items based on a menu designed to meet nutritional needs, comprising 50% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 20% fats.
The “Walang Gutom Program” is part of the national government’s effort to reduce hunger and provide direct assistance to vulnerable families identified under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).