THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will fully implement nationwide the “Food Stamp Program” in July this year.
This is six months following its successful pilot implementation in some parts of the country.
The said announcement was made by DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay in a press briefing in Quezon City on Saturday.
Malacañang has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 44, establishing the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” as a flagship program of the government.
The DSWD shall undertake the necessary steps for the successful implementation and expansion of the program.
The Food Stamp Program aims to decrease the incidence of voluntary hunger experienced by low-income households.
This is by providing monetary-based assistance by means of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that can be used in purchasing select food commodities from eligible partner merchant stores.
Punay added they are starting the preparations for the full implementation program, one of which is the hiring of the needed staff in the areas covered.
He further stated that the program will be implemented in 10 regions and 12 provinces with an initial target of 300,000 families.
It can be recalled that the pilot testing of the program started in December last year, and is expected to end this month.
