“We laud the Field Office-7 for this new development that will ensure the success of the program in the region. The DSWD prioritizes local retailers in its implementation of the FSP. We assist them by linking them to established markets, such as the FSP beneficiaries. Through this, we are able to assist not only the beneficiaries, but also local business owners,” DSWD Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson, said on Tuesday (July 16).
DSWD FO-7 Regional Director (RD) Shalaine Marie Lucero signed the agreement on Monday (July 15) with representatives of retailers from the Cordova Multi-Purpose Cooperative and RC Family Grocery Store in Cordova, Cebu.
A similar MOA was also signed by the Central Visayas regional director with Honey’s Agrivet and General Merchandize, NENAFA, LMPC, CJM Minimart, and Jera’s Grocery Store in Mabinay, Negros Oriental.
“This collaboration and leveraging of the established network and resources of retail partners paves the way for a more efficient and wider-reaching Walang Gutom program. It increases access to program benefits for beneficiaries through retail partners providing safe and quality food packages,” Regional Director Lucero said.
These partner-retailers will be available to supply the food packages to the FSP beneficiaries during the redemption days, according to RD Lucero.
The first redemption period of FSP beneficiaries’ food packages will be from July 18 to 20 in the municipality of Cordova in Cebu with 159 registered beneficiaries and in Mabinay town in Negros Oriental with 773 registered recipients.
The FSP is a priority program of the Marcos Administration that provides beneficiaries with access to monetary-based assistance and nutrition education to teach them how to prepare healthy and safe meals for the family.
The FSP also invites them to become productive citizens through skills training and participation in government-organized job fairs. #
