BACOLOD City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday launched the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP) in this city.
Mae Cuaycong, special assistant to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, said of the total 689 beneficiaries, 172 were the first to avail themselves of the food stamps at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
She said the remaining beneficiaries are currently undergoing validation.
The FSP, a priority initiative of the Marcos administration, aims to reduce the incidence of voluntary hunger experienced by low-income households.
The program targets to feed 1 million food-poor families within three years with the full support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Under the FSP, each beneficiary will be provided with an electronic card worth P3,000 monthly.
To ensure that the beneficiaries are qualified “food poor” families, DSWD has hired validators to verify the status of the target beneficiaries.
The DSWD is tasked with identifying eligible beneficiaries and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure the efficient and timely distribution of food stamps.
To recall, President d Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order 44, establishing the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” as a flagship program of the national government, aiming to reduce voluntary hunger among low-income households through Electronic Benefit Transfer cards for purchasing select food commodities from partner merchant stores.
Cuaycong, meanwhile, clarified that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Unconditional Cash Transfer Program (UCT) beneficiaries, as well as others receiving assistance from DSWD are not qualified to avail of the FSP./PN
