Manila: Sen. Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan on Tuesday stated his intention to institutionalize President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Walang Gutom program, emphasizing the need for food assistance to remain consistent across different administrations.
According to Philippines News Agency, Pangilinan has filed Senate Bill No. 2379, known as the proposed Walang Gutom Act of 2026, aiming to provide a legal foundation for the program, ensuring ongoing government funding, coordination, and accountability. He highlighted the necessity of a stable and continuous system to ensure food security for every family in need, regardless of the prevailing administration.
President Marcos initiated the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program through Executive Order No. 44 in October 2023, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the leading agency. The program offers electronic benefit transfer cards with PHP3,000 in monthly food credits for food-poor households, redeemable at accredited retailers for nutritious food.
DSWD reported that the program expanded to cover 600,000 household-beneficiaries nationwide by February, with a target to reach 750,000 by 2028. Pangilinan stressed that a statutory basis would shield the initiative from being reliant solely on executive and administrative orders.
Pangilinan underscored the importance of addressing hunger, particularly among schoolchildren, stating that economic progress is meaningless if people remain hungry. Government data cited in the bill's explanatory note revealed that 31.4 percent of Filipino households faced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2023, with higher rates in rural areas.
The proposed law would also integrate food assistance with local agriculture, sourcing from farmers, fisherfolk, cooperatives, and Kadiwa outlets. Pangilinan believes this dual approach would feed vulnerable families while providing markets for local food producers.
Additionally, the program mandates beneficiaries to participate in Kalusugan, Kakayahan, at Kabuhayan or 3K sessions, combining nutrition education with productivity and livelihood interventions. SB 2379 proposes community farming areas and school-based food gardens, supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Education (DepEd).
Initial funding would derive from the existing budgets of the DA, DepEd, and Department of the Interior and Local Government, with future funding incorporated into the national budget. Pangilinan emphasized that no one should be left behind in progress, and the country's success should be measured by its ability to uplift ordinary Filipinos.
