With the Department of Agriculture (DA) approving the request for low-cost rice, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now taking steps to include the Php 20 per kilo rice in the food redemption system of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).
“Yung request natin na mag supply ang DA ng murang bigas ay inaprubahan nga po nila. Kung kaya ang gagawin natin, nitong June, ay magkakaroon tayo ng pilot run kung saan susubukan natin yung sistema noong pag-coordinate ng DA doon sa ating mga accredited merchants at retailers including mga Kadiwa outlets,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWDs spokesperson, said in an interview over “One Balita” on Wednesday (June 4).
Accordingly, the DSWD will start to pilot the system this June, and projects that actual rice distribution will begin within the month until December this year.
The DSWD spokesperson said part of the system to be piloted will feature the flow of rice supply and access from the agency to the suppliers, retailers and down to the beneficiaries.
Under the WGP, the beneficiaries have a food redemption period wherein they receive Php3,000 monthly food credits through their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.
“May redemption period o yung parang palengke day ng ating mga walang gutom participants. Ito ay isinasagawa pagkatapos ng nutrition education sessions (NES) which is one of the conditions of the program. So kapag natop-up na yung Php3,000 monthly food credit doon sa kanilang electronic benefit transfer card, magkakaroon ng redemption day,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao explained.
During redemption day, the food products are readily available and delivered to an identified venue by the accredited merchants and retailers.
The beneficiaries are taught by the program personnel to budget their food credits and buy nutritious food from the produce and goods by accredited merchants and retailers on redemption day.
The DSWD spokesperson said the coordination of the DSWD with the DA is part of the latter’s continuing effort to help the WGP beneficiaries to fight hunger and promote proper nutrition, as well as sustain present program gains.
Based on the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey, a 4.1 percent decline in hunger incidence among the WGP beneficiaries had been noted. This means that the program is gaining positive impact to achieve its objectives.
The WGP is the primary program of the administration to end hunger in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to eradicate hunger by 2027.
Presently, the anti-hunger program is serving 300,000 households but is set to gradually expand in coverage until it reaches 750,000 families by 2027. (GDVF)