Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Usec. Romel Lopez assured that the government will monitor the beneficiaries of the food stamp program, also known "Walang Gutom 2027".
In an interview during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime on Wednesday, June 14, Lopez stressed that the program will have safety nets, including a monitoring and evaluation system.
"Makikita natin kung nagagamit ng tama at, siyempre, natutulungan ng tama yung ating mga kababayan," the DSWD official said.
Under the "Walang Gutom 2027" program, beneficiaries will receive electronic benefit transfers or cash cards loaded with Php 3,000 worth of food credits.
Lopez noted that the beneficiaries cannot convert the food credits into cash or use them to buy alcoholic drinks.
"Ito ay nakapasok lamang, nakapaloob sa inyong cash card. Ito, ang mabibili niyo lang dito ay yung nutritional food items na kailangan natin," Lopez explained.
"Kung ano lang yung kailangan, kung ano lang iyan items na approved, iyon lang ang makukuha ninyo. Hindi niyo magagamit iyan sa ibang purpose, sa ibang objective," he added.
Aside from financial assitance, Lopez said that beneficiaries will also receive a cookbook containing recipes for nutritious meals.
"Makikita natin na maari natin i-maximize yung mga ganitong mga menu na hindi ganoon ka-mahal pero mas masustansya pa minsan doon inaakala natin na mamahalin na pagkain," he said.
DSWD will also coordinate with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide training and livelihood for the beneficiaries.
Lopez said that the program encourages the beneficiaries to give back to the Philippines government by helping in the economy of the country.
"We will encourage the beneficiaries to enter doon sa ating training ng TESDA para bigyan tayo ng vocational and other skills training para matulungan tayo na maging empleyado," he said.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. earlier gave the green light for the DSWD to hold a pilot implementation of the food stamp program expected to run for six months.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the French Development Agency, through grants amounting to US$ 3 million, will fund the pilot test of the program.
