The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will fully implement nationwide the “Food Stamp Program” of the government in July this year, six months after its successful pilot implementation in parts of the country.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No. 44, establishing the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program.” It’s a flagship program of DSWD DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay
which is mandated to undertake the necessary steps for the cards
successful implementation and expansion of the program.
The program aims to reduce the incidence of involuntary hunger experienced by low-income households by providing monetary-based assistance through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) that can be used to purchase select food commodities from eligible partner merchant stores.
In a press briefing in Quezon City on Saturday, DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay said they are starting starting the preparations for the full implementation program, one of which is the hiring of the needed staff in the areas covered.
Punay said the program will be implemented in 10 regions and 12 provinces with an initial target of 300,000 families.
“This month po magsisimula na iyong validation at ating registration ng 300,000 beneficiaries para sa July na rin po natin. Naka-hire na po this month ng 1,000 validators dito sa mga implementation sites. Twenty-one provinces in 10 regions po iyan na na-identify ng ating departamento bilang priority areas,” he said.
Pilot testing of the program started in December last year, and is expected to end this month, according to Punay.
Punay said they are set to conduct a review and assessment of the results of their six-month pilot testing, which will begin next month to determine the impact of the program to select 3,000 beneficiaries. Punay said the initial assessment conducted from February to March this year showed a significant impact to the lives of the selected beneficiaries.
The DSWD is tasked to identify eligible beneficiaries of the program and to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure efficient and timely distribution of the food Stamps.
Progress in GenSan, Soccsksargen
Development in General Santos City is on track but the government is building more infrastructures in the locality and beyond to ensure progress in the entire region of Soccsksargen, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The President made the remarks when asked during a media interview in General Santos City about the national government’s significant contribution to the development of the region composed of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City. The Chief Executive travelled to General Santos City to personally deliver the presidential assistance and other government aid to farmers and fishermen hit by the continuing onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon. He vowed to continue providing aid to El Niño victims in the region.
The national leadership, the President said, has a lot of plans for the city and the region but has been encountering challenges because of the intensified and prolonged dry spell in the country.
“Maganda na ang takbo ng development sa GenSan. Ang gagawin ng national government ay patuloy ang pagdebelop ng imprastruktura dun sa ‘Build, Better, More’ na aming ginagawa. Dahil pagkanabuksan natin lahat ng mga iba’t-ibang lugar, maliwanag na gaganda ang economic situation sa mga lugar na ‘yan,” President Marcos told reporters.
“Tuloy-tuloy lang naman. Kasama sa plano ang buong bansa sa social development plan. ‘Yung infrastructure dito lalo na dahil marami na kayong magandang imprastruktura ay pagagandahin pa natin para talaga mararamdaman na dadami at mas magkaroon ng trabaho at mas malaki ang kinikita,” he added.
Such government thrust will include the farmers and fishermen in the region, President Marcos said, stressing the government’s long-term plan is to provide corn and palay seeds, fertilizer, farm equipment and machineries for processing.
In addition to the existing cold storages for the region’s fishery industry, the President promised to provide more. “Marami naman kayong cold storage dito dahil masigla ang fishing industry dito. Ang tawag diyan is we invest in success. Napaka-successful na ng ginagawa ng GenSan kaya’t doon kami maglalagay ng investment ng galing sa national government,” he said.
Fishery is among General Santos City’s major industries particularly tuna fishing and canned tuna processing.
In terms of agricultural production, General Santos is engaged in livestock and poultry as well as production of coconut, pineapple, asparagus, bananas and rice.
The city has major projects led by the construction of General Santos City underpass/ interchanges. It is the first mega infrastructure project of the DPWH-Soccsksargen. The project is 740-linear meters in length with a 560-linear meter underpass tunnel alongside a bike lane. PND