Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets with executives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) on Monday (September 9) to discuss a developing project seeking to enhance the agency’s Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (WGP).

The meeting explored the ADB’s project called Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (REFUEL), which aims to scale up WGP, particularly its utilization of electronic food voucher for food-poor beneficiaries.

The DSWD Chief and Asst. Secretary for Innovations Baldr Bringas, who is also the Officer-In-Charge of WGP extended their gratitude to ADB for their continuous technical and funding support to the agency’s food stamp program.

The ADB executives present in the meeting were Social Sector Economist Amir Jilani, Principal Country Specialist Christina Lozano, Principal Country Economist Joel Mangahas, Economist Leinart Renners, and Financial Management Specialist Nelia Flores.

The AFD representatives were led by Philippines Project Officer Aleksi Leskinen, Regional Task Manager on Health and Social Protection Thomas Gonnet, Country Director Bénédicte Gazon and Project Manager Delphine Helle.