“We will not progress as a nation if a significant portion of the population remains hungry, remains poor. At dito po pumapasok ang ating Walang Gutom Program (WGP), not as a temporary measure para ma-address ang kagutuman, but as a strategic investment in human capital.”
This was emphasized by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Baldr Bringas of the Innovations Program and Development Group (IPDG) during his guesting at the DSWD-Teleradyo partnership program, ‘Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan’ on Saturday (June 7).
Asst. Secretary Bringas said the WGP aims to fight involuntary hunger by providing food augmentation to the eligible low-income households who belong to the food-poor criteria as defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Under the WGP, Php3,000 in food credits are loaded each month to the electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards provided to beneficiaries. These credits can be used to purchase high-nutrition food items, divided as follows: 50 percent for carbohydrates; 30 percent for protein; and, 20 percent for fiber-rich foods.
Contrary to claims that the WGP is an “ayuda” program, Asst. Secretary Bringas pointed out that the WGP has conditions that should be met by the beneficiaries for them to continue receiving food credits.
“Bago nila ma-receive yung Php3,000 na monthly food credits nila ay nire-require din natin sila to attend yung nutrition education sessions. Dito tinuturuan natin ang mga benepisyaryo kung paano kumain nang tama, kung paano maghanda ng healthy, delicious at affordable food. Ang objective nito is to foster a positive social behavioral change dahil gusto natin baguhin yung dietary habits at yung food purchasing behavior ng ating mga benepisyaryo.” Asst. Secretary Bringas explained.
In addition to helping food-poor households, the DSWD official highlighted that the program also intends to help farmers, local retailers, and small agriculture cooperatives to become the redemption points of WGP beneficiaries, thus creating an ecosystem of supply and demand.
“Gusto natin sa isang programa, multiple sectors ang natutulungan natin. Natutulungan natin ang mga magsasaka na makabenta ng ani, at the same time, natutulungan natin yung mga pinakamahihirap na magkaroon ng pagakain sa kanilang mga mesa,” Asst. Secretary Bringas said.
There are close to 1,000 registered and accredited retailers across all the regions implementing the WGP.
The ‘Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan’ is anchored by veteran broadcaster Alvin Elchico and co-hosted by Jet Guevara of the DSWD’s Public Relations Service (PRS). It airs every Saturday from 11 am to 12 noon at DZMM Radyo Patrol 630. (AKDL)