Manila: The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board's recent approval of the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (REFUEL) Project marks a significant step forward in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition in the Philippines, according to a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official. This initiative aims to bolster the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) for the years 2025 to 2028.
According to Philippines News Agency, the NEDA Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., endorsed the three-year initiative on Wednesday, which seeks to address pressing issues related to food insecurity and malnutrition. In a press release, Undersecretary Edu Punay of the DSWD's Innovations, Programs, and Development Group highlighted that REFUEL will leverage the achievements of the WGP's pilot phase.
Undersecretary Punay, who also serves as the national program manager of the WGP, expressed that the approval of REFUEL will enable the expansion and enhancement of the program. This will involve the development of robust implementation systems, improved digital infrastructure, and expanded partnerships to ensure the prompt provision of food assistance. Punay emphasized that the program's focus extends beyond immediate hunger relief, aiming to foster long-term resilience through complementary activities such as social behavior change sessions and livelihood skills training, ultimately empowering impoverished households towards self-sufficiency.
The REFUEL Project is specifically designed to support the national expansion of the WGP, which has been institutionalized under Executive Order No. 44, series of 2023. The project targets reaching 750,000 food-poor households by 2027, utilizing the Listahanan 3 database and other government targeting systems for identification.
During its pilot phase, the WGP successfully reached 300,000 households in prioritized provinces, concluding in June 2024. This phase laid the groundwork for the program's nationwide rollout. The REFUEL Project, with a total cost of PHP74 billion, is backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and co-financed by the Agence Fran§aise de D©veloppement (AFD) and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
Beneficiaries of the REFUEL Project will receive electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, loaded with PHP3,000 in monthly food credits, which can be redeemed at accredited local retailers for nutritious food items. Additionally, participation in monthly nutrition education and productivity enhancement sessions will be a program requirement.
Punay reiterated the DSWD's commitment to collaborating with national and local stakeholders to ensure the program's systematic implementation, with the ultimate goal of reducing hunger and malnutrition throughout the country.
