Photo courtesy of PNA
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continued distributing food and cash assistance to thousands of low income families in the Bicol Region through its Walang Gutom Program and Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport.
The Walang Gutom Program provides eligible households with monthly food credits worth Php 3,000 through electronic benefit transfer cards, allowing beneficiaries to buy nutritious food from accredited stores.
The DSWD said the program also promotes healthier eating habits through learning sessions focused on nutrition, livelihood and family well-being.
As of the latest monitoring report, the program has reached 63,753 beneficiaries across Bicol, with the largest number of recipients coming from Camarines Sur, followed by Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes.
The agency said safeguards have been put in place to ensure that food credits are used only for approved food items, with transactions digitally monitored and partner retailers regularly evaluated.
Beneficiaries of the UPLIFT program also received cash assistance, which some recipients said would help cover school expenses for their children and other household needs.
Families enrolled in both programs said the assistance had helped them cope with the rising cost of food, particularly the increasing price of rice.
The DSWD said it would continue monitoring the use of assistance while ensuring that beneficiaries have access to nutritious food and support for their daily needs.