Tondo: Beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Walang Gutom Program (WGP) in Tondo, Manila have affirmed the effectiveness of the government's anti-hunger initiative as they narrated to members of the media its impact on their lives.
According to Philippines News Agency, one of the beneficiaries is Edwin Jimeno, a scavenger from Tondo who recalled how his family's life significantly changed after being included in the WGP. Jimeno expressed his joy upon learning about his inclusion, as it meant his family could finally enjoy decent meals instead of relying on leftovers found in trash. Before joining the program, Jimeno's family of seven often survived on discarded food, eating just twice a day if they were lucky.
Jimeno expressed his gratitude to President Marcos for his inclusion in the program, highlighting the struggle his family faced before joining the WGP. Three other beneficiaries, Salve Pascubillo, Maritess Pederico, and Vilma Lopez, also shared similar experiences during the media forum. They expressed their daily struggles to provide enough food for their families and their gratitude for being part of the WGP.
Launched under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the WGP aims to combat involuntary hunger by providing PHP3,000 worth of monthly food credits to eligible low-income households. Assistant Secretary Baldr Bringas of the DSWD's Innovations Program and Development Group (IPDG) emphasized that both data and personal stories from beneficiaries demonstrate the program's effectiveness and meaningful impact on their daily lives.
Bringas also noted that the beneficiaries' narratives align with the results of the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey, which showed a decrease in extreme hunger incidence among WGP participants. Additionally, the DSWD announced a partnership with the Department of Agriculture, allowing beneficiaries to purchase rice at a subsidized rate of PHP20 per kilo, with a pilot program set to launch in Metro Manila this June.
The WGP currently serves 300,000 households, including around 2,500 in Metro Manila. Beneficiaries receive a PHP3,000 monthly food credit via electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which can be used to purchase nutritious food from accredited merchants and outlets. The program aims to serve 750,000 food-poor households by 2027. President Marcos has directed the DSWD to assess the potential need for increased food credit allocation in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank.
