In a landmark move to address hunger and malnutrition, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board—chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.—has approved the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (REFUEL) Project. This was the Board’s final meeting before its transition into the Economy and Development (ED) Council, as mandated by Republic Act 12145.
Under the same law, NEDA is set to evolve into the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), with enhanced authority in steering national development strategies.
The REFUEL Project, which will run from July 2025 to July 2028, enhances the existing Philippine Food Strategic Transfer and Alternative Measures Program (STAMP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It serves as a key component of the government’s Walang Gutom (Zero Hunger) 2027 initiative.
Targeting around 750,000 food-insecure households identified through DSWD’s Listahanan 3 database, the project is backed by PHP74.6 billion in funding from the Asian Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
“By approving the REFUEL project, the government demonstrates its unwavering commitment to fight food insecurity and undernutrition. The program reflects a renewed focus toward ending involuntary hunger, uplifting vulnerable communities, and promoting resilience through smart, nutrition-sensitive social protection,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan stated.
Data from the 2023 National Nutrition Survey by DOST’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute show that 30% of Filipino households experience moderate to severe food insecurity, while 3% face severe food insecurity.
REFUEL aims to deliver timely, shock-responsive food vouchers to vulnerable populations, particularly those impacted by hunger, malnutrition, and climate-related disasters. It reinforces the government’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive social safety net for all Filipinos.