On July 18, 2024, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII officially started its food redemption for the initial batch of beneficiaries under the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program, primarily in Cebu and Negros Oriental.

The inaugural food redemption in the region took place at partner retailer stores in Cordova, Cebu, with 159 beneficiaries, and in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, with approximately 773 individual beneficiaries.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Krunima Antonio Escudero III and Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero graced the food redemption in Barangay Cogon, Cordova.

In his address, Asec. Escudero reminded the beneficiaries and partner retailers to comply with the conditions or guidelines of the Food Stamp Program since both parties stand to benefit from its provisions.

“Napakaganda ng programa na ito kasi hindi lang ito dole out, may parte din kayo. Kailangan din may gawin kayo para maipagpatuloy ang pagbigay sa inyo ng benepisyo through this program. Ang ating Walang Gutom [2027]: Food Stamp Program. And ito nga, ito na yung patunay na we are truly reaching out to you para mas mapaganda ang serbisyo ng gobyerno at makarating sa inyong lahat,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Director Lucero urged the beneficiaries to use the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards as intended or designed.

She underscored the fact that not everyone has the opportunity to participate in or avail themselves of the program’s benefits.

Each EBT card contains PHP 3,000 in food credits from DSWD-WGP to redeem food commodities, with 50% (PHP1,500) allocated to carbohydrates, 30% (PHP 900) for proteins, and 20% (PHP 600) for fruits and vegetables.

DSWD Field Office VII has already started assessing local retailers, as well as conducting onboarding activities to expedite the accreditation processes and to ensure an adequate number of retailers for program scaling.

Needless to state, the accredited partner retailers play a pivotal role in program implementation since they are the only stores allowed to cater to the beneficiaries’ redemption of food packages. Therefore, they must possess all the essential documentary requirements and must observe food hygiene standards. They must also follow the Go, Grow, and Glow matrix for procuring and selling food commodities.

Most importantly, all accredited partner retailers must strictly adhere to the terms of their respective contracts to ensure the success of the program.

The Walang Gutom Program aims to reduce the incidence of involuntary hunger and malnutrition among low-income households, thus, fostering a sustainable population conducive to nation-building. ###

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