President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to keep a close watch on the effects of the “Walang Gutom” food stamp program following recent data showing a reduction in hunger among Filipinos. In a report during a sectoral meeting at Malacañang, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) highlighted that the number of food-poor families in the country decreased to 700,000 last year, down from one million in 2021.
“We are doing a better job of feeding people who need it,” Marcos shared on social media. With over 182,000 families now benefiting from monthly food credits, he emphasized the need for continuous improvement to reach a target of supporting one million households by 2027.
The food stamp program, launched last year, aims to alleviate involuntary hunger among low-income households. Following a pilot phase from December 2023 to July 2024, it has so far reached 182,771 families, with 89,772 actively redeeming food.
Looking ahead, the government plans to expand the program’s reach, aiming to cover 300,000 households in 2025 and an additional 400,000 in 2026, across 10 regions and 22 provinces.
