Beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Walang Gutom Program (WGP) welcomed the new year with affordable and nutritious food items from partner merchants and retailers during their 1st redemption day of the year.
“Sinimulan natin ang food redemption ng ating WGP beneficiaries noong January 2. Gusto natin na mayroon masustansyang pagkain sa mesa ng bawat pamilya sa pagpasok ng 2026 kaya mayroon tayong simultaneous redemption day simula noong Biyernes,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said on Wednesday (January 7).
From January 2 to 6, food redemption were held in the municipalities of Talitay, Northern Kabuntalan, and Datu Blah Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte; Lemery, Carles, and Balasan in Iloilo; Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur in Bicol; and Cotabato City.
“Nakakatuwa na makitang nakangiti ang mga benepisyaryo pagkatapos nilang bumili ng bigas, prutas, gulay, at iba pang masustansyang pagkain para sa kanilang pamilya,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
According to Asst. Secretary Dumlao, food redemption in other cities and municipalities are scheduled until the last week of January.
WGP beneficiaries, as mentioned by the DSWD official, used their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards loaded with Php3,000 food credits monthly to buy food items.
From the food credits, Php1,500 is intended for carbohydrate-rich food (50 percent); Php900 for products rich in protein (30 percent); and Php600 for vegetables, fruits, salt, and other condiments (20 percent fiber).
Norhuda Zacaria, a WGP beneficiary from Maguindanao del Norte, thanked the DSWD and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for providing assistance to the poor and vulnerable sector.
“Alhamdulillah tapos na rin ang (food) redemption ng Walang Gutom Program dito sa Datu Blah Sinsuat.Thank you po sa DSWD na walang sawang nagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga mahihirap at sa ating President ng Pilipinas,” Norhuda wrote on her social media account.
Another WGP beneficiary, Melinda Balajadia from the municipality of Lemery in Iloilo, who is also celebrating her 70th birthday on January 6, said the food redemption made her birthday even more meaningful, bringing relief to her family as they can now prepare delicious and healthy food.
“Hindi ko inaasahan na mapapasama ako sa Walang Gutom Program, kaya lubos ang aming pasasalamat para sa tulong sa aming pagkain. Panalangin ko na sana ay magpatuloy ito at marami pang matulungan na kagaya naming mahihirap,” Melinda said in her local dialect.
The WGP, recognized as a flagship program of the Marcos administration under Executive Order No. 44, is the country’s version of the food stamp program similar to other countries. (YADP)
