On Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. awarded 10 Local Government Units (LGU) for their exceptional approach in addressing hunger in their communities, as part of the administration’s Walang Gutom 2027 Program.

The 17 finalists were evaluated according to the following criteria: impact, inclusivity, innovation, resilience, sustainability, and efficiency. Through the proposed measures, LGUs were asked to incorporate new ideas in their respective food programs. 10 LGUs were then selected and recognized in the Walang Gutom Awards (WGA) at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang Palace.

Hunger has been an ongoing dilemma to the vulnerable and marginalized community in the Philippines for decades. According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI), the country ranked at 14.8 or moderately hungry—falling below the regional scores of East and Southeast Asia. In 2022, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) found that 12% of Filipino families experienced hunger in the last three months of the year.

Last October, Marcos signed Executive Order No. 44 or the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program, implemented through the DSWD. The order indicates that it would provide “monetary assistance for targeted beneficiaries to purchase food commodities from eligible partner merchant stores.”

The mission on putting an end to hunger began when Marcos was asked about his legacy for his presidency.

“I remember, it is topical that we speak of this now, I remember sitting on that spot and being interviewed, very early on — I think it is my third day in office, and I was being interviewed and the interviewer asked me: “What would you like to be your legacy for your presidency, for your administration?”. And it was a question that I was not prepared for. It is a question that I had not actually thought about. But the answer came to me in an instant: Wala ng gutom. Wala ng gutom na Pilipino. That is my dream, no hungry Filipino,” the President concluded.