President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. on Monday said that his administration is seeking assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in financing the proposed food stamp program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In an interview with the media on the sidelines of the ADB Reception at the bank’s headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Marcos said the national food stamp program is among the programs “now in the pipeline that is being developed.”

He noted that the food stamp program proposed by DSWD is seen as effective in other countries.

According to the president, the ADB is the country's largest source of official development assistance (ODA), and the scope of the ODA assistance to the Philippines has recently increased — from agriculture, and re-skilling, to climate change, mitigation, and adaptation.

“The ADB has given us so many opportunities not only in the projects mentioned but even more so since ADB was brought to Manila. They have been an essential part of the country’s development plans and they have been a robust and strong and reliable partner in the development of the Philippines,” Marcos said.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian earlier said that the food stamp program called "Walang Gutom 2027" intends to help one million Filipino households belonging to the food poor criteria as defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Written By Ailah Francisco, DZRH News Online Intern