DSWD food program reaches 26K families

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has provided food to over 26,000 households from three provinces in the Bicol Region three months into the implementation of the “Walang Gutom” program (WGP).

In an interview Tuesday, DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio said the beneficiary households come from various cities and municipalities within the provinces of Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon.

“The agency’s goal is to provide nutritious food sources to families with limited access to such resources. To address food insecurity, the Regional Program Management Office of the WGP has conducted simultaneous validation and food redemption activities throughout the region,” he said.

Laurio said validations were conducted to identify eligible beneficiaries for the program -- especially senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents -- before the distribution.

“Social workers interview potential beneficiaries, focusing on their family structure, primary source of income, monthly food expenditures, and other relevant information,” he added.

Qualified beneficiaries were issued electronic benefit transfer cards, each loaded with PHP3,000.

“The funds on the cards were used during the redemption activity, where beneficiaries could redeem food provisions by scanning their cards using the provided Point-of-Sale machines. Upon scanning, each beneficiary received a receipt detailing the food packages distributed during the event,” Laurio said.

He added that the program promotes long-term food security by integrating livelihood support and sustainable feeding initiatives, empowering communities to become self-sufficient and less reliant on government assistance.

“The Walang Gutom Program plays a crucial role in combating food insecurity and malnutrition among low-income families in the region. It ensures that vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and marginalized communities, have access to nutritious meals. By offering food assistance and meal subsidies, the program helps alleviate hunger and improve the overall health of Bicolano families, particularly those facing poverty and economic challenges,” he said. (with a report from Alyana Amador, OJT/PNA)

FOOD SECURITY. A beneficiary of the Walang Gutom program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development gets food supplies that include rice and eggs, during a redemption activity in Libon, Albay on Jan. 20, 2025. More than 26,000 families have so far benefited from the food aid program. (File photo courtesy of DSWD-5)