From the time of their inclusion in the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 300,000 families continue to eat better as hunger incidence continues its downward trend among the poorest Filipino households.
A private sector–commissioned Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey for the WGP, conducted in March 2025, showed that hunger prevalence among beneficiaries dropped by 7.2 percentage points, with the most notable improvement seen in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)-Plus cluster, where hunger incidence fell by 17.4 percentage points.
“We are seeing early signs of success of the Walang Gutom Program. And as instructed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we will expand the program further to 600,000 beneficiaries in the second half of the year to make a bigger and more tangible impact of food poor Filipino households,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian told reporters in Malacanang on Wednesday (September 3).
The latest SWS survey revealed that the incidence of hunger among WGP beneficiaries in 10 regions and 22 provinces dropped by 7.2% within a six-month period from October 2024 to March 2025. It also showed decline in hunger prevalence for a second consecutive quarter.
In October 2024, the SWS recorded 48.7 percent in hunger prevalence among WGP beneficiaries, which dropped to 44.6 percent in December 2024 or by 4.1 percentage points.
In the second quarterly survey, the hunger incidence further dropped to 41.5 percent in March 2025 or by 3.1 percentage points.
“We are pleased with the favorable results that clearly shows the positive impact of the WGP on the food-poor beneficiaries. Consequently, we will continue to develop ways to make the program more responsive to address the food insecurity of the program’s beneficiaries,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
The sharpest reduction was seen in the BARMM-Plus cluster — which include the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay — where hunger incidence fell by 17.4 percent. Almost a third of the existing WGP beneficiaries are in the BARMM provinces where the highest prevalence of hunger was also recorded.
The SWS survey dubbed as “Walang Gutom Tracker” was commissioned by private companies Globe and Monde Nissin.
It also mirrored the latest results of the regular SWS survey on involuntary hunger, which showed a 3.9-percent drop in the number of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger — from 20 percent in April to 16.1 percent in June.
Secretary Gatchalian emphasized that the SWS survey results is a concrete proof that the WGP is making a tangible difference in the lives of food-poor households.
“The program remains central to President Bongbong Marcos’ priority agenda of addressing involuntary hunger, combining immediate food support with long-term empowerment initiatives,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
Four WGP beneficiaries from Tondo, Manila have affirmed the effectiveness of the government’s anti-hunger program as they narrated to members of the Media its impact on their lives.
Edwin Jimeno, a scavenger from Tondo, Manila, emotionally recalled how his family’s life significantly changed after he was included in the WGP.
“Tuwang-tuwa po ako noong time na yon na nasabihan ako na nakuha ako sa WGP. Kaya sa sobrang excited ko, [sinabi] ko talaga yung pamilya ko na ito na siguro yung chance na makakatikim din yung pamilya ko ng hindi na yung tira-tira na lang na pagkain na kinakain sa basura,” Edwin said during the recent DSWD Thursday Media Forum.
Before joining the WGP, a teary-eyed Edwin said his family of seven members survived on leftovers or discarded food also known as ‘pagpag’, eating just twice a day if they were lucky.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos dahil napili po ako sa programang WGP. Dahil noong time na wala pa ako sa WGP, hindi pa ako nakasali, ang hanapbuhay ko po ay mangangalakal ng mga basura. Swerte na po sa pamilya namin na makakain kami two times a day,” a visibly emotional Edwin said.
The three other ‘Walang Gutom’ beneficiaries from Tondo who spoke in the Media Forum were Salve Pascubillo, Maritess Pederico and Vilma Lopez, who surprised reporters when she confessed having 13 children and expressed deep gratitude for her inclusion in the WGP.
Through the WGP, each household receives ₱3,000 worth of monthly food credits via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, redeemable at partner retailers.
As of August 2025, the WGP is supporting 300,000 household beneficiaries nationwide and working with 1,017 accredited retail partners, including 639 women-led enterprises.
The Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program, commonly known as the Walang Gutom Program, has been in existence for nearly two years, with its pilot phase launched in July 2023. The program targets to free from hunger 750,000 food-poor families by 2027.
The WGP, created through Executive Order No. 44, also promotes social and behavioral change among food-poor families by teaching them how to prepare nutritious, delicious, and affordable meals.
