The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has underscored that the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) as a long-term investment in human capital and not a short-term relief measure or ‘ayuda’.
“We, in the Department, believe that it is high time we invest just as aggressively in human capital. What I am trying to say is that we will not progress as a nation if a significant portion of our population remains poor, marginalized, and underprivileged,” Asst. Secretary Baldr Bringas of the DSWD’s Innovations and Program Development Group (IPDG) said on Wednesday (August 20) during the pilot episode of the reformatted ‘DSWD Fastbreak.’
Asst. Secretary Bringas pointed out that the WGP is part of the government’s effort to address involuntary hunger and malnutrition while empowering Filipino families.
“Dito po pumapasok ang WGP not as a temporary measure but as a strategic investment in human capital,” the IPDG assistant secretary said.
One of the goals of the WGP is to promote nutrition and behavioral change among beneficiaries by helping them understand the value of buying and eating nutritious food through nutrition education sessions.
Attendance to the monthly nutrition education sessions is one of the conditions for WGP beneficiaries for them to regularly receive their monthly food credit.
“I want to emphasize na itong programa na ito ay hindi isang ayuda program dahil tayo po ay nag-iimpose ng conditions. Ang isa sa conditions na ito ay yung tinatawag natin na nutrition education session. Dito po ay tinuturuan natin ang mga benepisyaryo natin kung paano kumain nang tama, na kaya nilang magprepare ng healthy, delicious, at affordable na food,” Asst. Secretary Bringas told DSWD Fastbreak.
Under the program, beneficiaries are provided with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards loaded with Php3,000 worth of food credits each month that are not convertible into cash.
“Basically, nagpo-provide tayo ng tinatawag natin na electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards na pre-loaded with Php3,000. Ang beneficiaries natin ay magagamit ang card na ito sa mga registered and accredited retailers natin,” Asst. Secretary Bringas explained.
The reformatted DSWD Fast Break is hosted by Information Officer Anne Lorraine Bustamante of the Strategic Communications’ Digital Media Service (DMS) and is aired every Wednesday at 11 am, using the DSWD’s Facebook platform. (YADP)
