Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian went to Tondo, Manila on Friday (December 22) to lead the distribution of the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to around 330 beneficiaries under the new batch of Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP).

The EBT cards are loaded with Php3,000 food credits that the beneficiaries can use to purchase nutritious food items from Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls during the redemption day.

Addressing the new beneficiaries at the redemption venue in Delpan, Sec. Gatchalian reiterated that the FSP is a priority program of the Marcos administration to ensure food security.

“Itong programa na ito ay tugon doon sa pangako ng ating Pangulo na masigurado na walang Pilipino na nagugutom,” Sec. Gatchalian explained.

(This program is a response to our President’s promise to make sure that no Filipino goes hungry.)

“Bagamat pasimula lamang ito, tatakbo ito nang tuloy-tuloy. Ito ho ay hindi lang pamasko ng Pangulo kundi tugon sa kanyang pangako na by the time na matapos limang taon mula ngayon, dapat wala ng mahirap na Pilipino at dapat wala ng gutom na Pilipino,” the DSWD Secretary pointed out.

(Although this is just the beginning, the program will run continuously.

This is not just the President’s Christmas treat but a response to his promise that five years from now, there should be no poor Filipinos and there should be no hungry Filipinos.)

On Thursday (December 21), some 400 beneficiaries under the scale up pilot implementation of the FSP in Tondo were able to purchase Php3,000 worth of nutritious food items from Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls.

In an interview, Sec. Gatchalian said the new batch of beneficiaries are part of the target 3,000 pilot beneficiaries of the program.

“Remember sa pilot natin, 3,000 lang ang paunang kasama muna. Kapag naging matagumpay ang programa, lalakihan natin to 300,000 all the way to one million na pamilya,” Sec. Gatchalian pointed out.

(Remember in our pilot implementation, there are only 3,000 initial participants. If the program is successful, we will increase to 300,000 all the way to one million families.)

Aside from Tondo, Manila, other pilot areas for the FSP include Siargao Island, San Mariano in Isabela, Garchitorena in Camarines Sur, and Parang in Maguindanao.

The pilot implementation for the new batch of FSP beneficiaries will run for six months until May 2024.

The FSP provides its beneficiaries with access to monetary-based assistance and nutrition education to teach them how to prepare healthy and safe meals for the family. It also invites them to become productive citizens through skills training and participation in government-organized job fairs.#