The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to start the first pilot run of the food stamp program or the “Walang Gutom 2027” this July.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the program is currently in the design stage as they were still working with the World Food Program (WFP).

“Mayroon na tayong first draft ng design and we will spend the remaining months of May and June in the design stage,” Gatchalian said.

“So, the remaining May and June, we will work with designing it. Now, July to December will be the pilot run for those regions that we’ve identified,” he added.

The DSWD secretary said that “families would be given tap cards loaded with food credits that have ₱3,000 that can purchase a selected list of foods of DSWDS accredited local retailers.”

He noted that an individual must be signed up first at the nearest Public Employment Service Office (PESO) to get a certification.

“Ang kondisyon nga doon is, when you’re signed up, you have to go to your nearest Public Employment Service Office (PESO), get a certification that you are now partaking—being counted as part of the workforce no matter what job it is,” he added.

Gatchalian stated that the chosen beneficiaries are families whose monthly income does not make ₱8,000.

The DSWD chief pointed out that the DSWD will monitor and measure the beneficiaries in the regions continuously through the whole program.

He believes that the food stamp program will properly address “the gaps and assist its beneficiaries in attaining the recommended food and energy consumption needed for each individual to perform daily tasks and routines.”

Written by Stephanie Anne Santos, DZRH News Online Intern