In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has adopted the ₱20 per kilo rice program under its own food stamp program, said the welfare agency head.
Following his initial announcement during a press briefing at the Malacañang, DSWD Secretary Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian confirmed in an interview with DZRH that his agency and the DA have agreed to include the sale of the more affordable rice through accredited retailers, as reported by Rohvic Manuel of DZRH TV.
“Ang usapan namin ng Department of Agriculture, ni Secretary (Francisco Tiu) Laurel, ‘yung murang bigas, ‘yung 20 bigas ng Pangulo, ay dadalhin na natin doon, para ‘yung nakukuha nilang (mga benepisyaryo) food credit, murang bigas na ang mabibili nila. So ibig sabihin, mas marami silang bigas, pagkain na makukuha doon sa food credit,” Gatchalian said on Dos Por Dos.
(Our agreement with the Department of Agriculture, with Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, is that the affordable rice, the ₱20 rice of the President’s Kadiwa program, will be brought to DSWD accredited retailers, so the food credits beneficiaries receive can purchase them the affordable rice. In other words, they can obtain more rice and other foods with their food credit.)
These retailers, he said, include the Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls, agricultural cooperatives, and other Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Gatchalian revealed that around 300,000 beneficiaries who receive ₱3,000 worth of food vouchers will benefit from the joint program; the welfare agency aims to raise this number to 750,000.
“Doon (sa mga retailer) sila (mga benepisyaryo) mamimili ng pagkain na angkop sa kanilang pamilya. So doon, ngayon, maa-avail na nila, sa tulong ng Department of Agriculture at sa utos ng ating Pangulo na to make ‘yung ₱20 na bigas available sa pinakamahihirap. Ito ‘yung pamamaraan para makarating talaga sa kanila. Three hundred thousand na po ‘yan … maging hanggang sa umabot ng 750,000,” he said.
(Beneficiaries can buy their food from the retailers, according to the needs of their families. Now, they will be able to avail of it there, with the help of the Department of Agriculture and the directive of our President to make the ₱20 rice available to the most needy. This is the way to ensure it reaches them. There are 300,000 of them now, their number will grow to 750,000.)
As of reporting, there are now 900 accredited retailers across the country, which will continue to multiply to match the increase of Walang Gutom Program beneficiaries.
The Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program was launched back in July 2023, which seeks to uplift 750,000 food-poor families from hunger by the year 2027.
