Four beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Walang Gutom Program (WGP) in Tondo, Manila have affirmed the effectiveness of the government’s anti-hunger as they narrated to members of the Media its impact on their lives.
One of them is Edwin Jimeno, a scavenger from Tondo who 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 told reporters during the DSWD’s Thursday Media Forum on May 5.
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,” the visibly emotional Edwin said during the Media Forum.
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.
Launched under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the WGP aims to combat involuntary hunger by providing Php3,000 worth of monthly food credits to eligible low-income households.
Assistant Secretary Baldr Bringas of the DSWD’s Innovations Program and Development Group (IPDG) said that both the data and the personal stories of beneficiaries prove that the WGP is “effective, with direction, and meaningful.”
“Yan ang gusto nating pag-usapan—hindi lamang kung ano ang ginagawa ng gobyerno para sa ating mga benepisyaryo at ating mga kababayan, kundi ano ba ang epekto nito sa pang araw-araw na buhay ng ating mga benepisyaryo,” Asst. Secretary Bringas told reporters at the Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.
Asst. Secretary Bringas pointed out that the beneficiaries’ narratives substantiated the results of the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey that showed a drop in the extreme hunger incidence among the beneficiaries of the WGP program.
WGP updates, enhancements
During the Media Forum, Asst. Secretary Bringas shared the program’s milestones, citing the directive of President Marcos to assess and determine if there is a need to increase the food credit allocation to help meet the needs of more families.
“If you can recall, tumulong po ang Asian Development Bank (ADB) para magawa itong programa na ito. Base po sa impact evaluation ng ADB, necessary na i-increase ang monthly food credits ng beneficiaries. Ipinag-utos ng Pangulo na magconduct tayo ng another pilot implementation kasama ng ADB to ensure na tama po ang amount na nare-receive ng mga benepisyaryo para matugunan ang kanilang requirements,” Asst. Secretary Bringas said.
The DSWD official also announced a major partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), allowing WGP beneficiaries to buy rice at a subsidized rate of Php20 per kilo.
“Ito pong Php20 per kilo ay maa-avail ng ating mga beneficiaries. Currently, magpa-pilot po muna tayo dito sa National Capital Region this Juine. Later on, once ma-perfect na po natin ito, mag-eexpand tayo nationwide,” Asst. Secretary Bringas said.
According to Asst. Secretary Bringas, the anti-hunger program is currently serving 300,000 households and is set to serve the target of 750,000 food-poor households by 2027.
The food stamps can be used to purchase nutritious food from partner retailers from small and medium-sized enterprises and in ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’ stalls. (YADP)