DSWD: Food stamp beneficiaries may now avail of P20 rice in accredited stores

Beneficiaries of the government’s food stamp program may now avail of the P20 per kilogram subsidized rice in accredited retailers, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

On Monday, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian led a food redemption activity for the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) beneficiaries in Tondo, Manila, where the department also launched the “Benteng Bigas, Meron na sa WGP” program. 

Under the program, accredited suppliers and retailers of the Department of Agriculture, including Kadiwa outlets, will now be able to sell P20 rice to WGP beneficiaries during redemption days. 

“Ngayong araw, sinimulan na natin na magkaroon ng availability ng P20 na bigas sa ating mga WGP beneficiaries,” said Gatchalian.

(Starting today, the P20 rice will be available to WGP beneficiaries.)

“Kung matatandaan ninyo, utos ng ating Pangulo na itong P20, dapat ang nakikinabang dyan ay pinaka-vulnerable sa ating mga mamamayan. Kung ilalagay sa kontekesto, ang WGP beneficiaries, sila yung food poor o pinakamahirap sa pinakamahirap,” he said. 

(If you can remember, the President said that the P20 rice should benefit the most vulnerable Filipinos. Putting into context, the WGP beneficiaries are the poorest of the poor in the country.)

At least 300,000 food-poor Filipinos are currently enrolled under the WGP. According to Gatchalian, the number of beneficiaries are poised to reach 750,000 by 2026. 

Gatchalian also said the DSWD is pilot testing the “Benteng Bigas, Meron na sa WGP” in some areas in the country including Tondo. Other areas are Cebu and Caraga. 

WGP

Dubbed as "Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program," the project aims to assist targeted households to address involuntary hunger in the country.

The DSWD earlier said it would provide "electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards" that will be loaded with food credits amounting to P3,000 per month to purchase a select list of food commodities from the DSWD registered or accredited local retailers.

Some conditions for the WGP beneficiaries include attending nutrition classes and having one employed family member who can later take skills upgrade training under the  Department of Labor and Employment, or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. — Sundy Locus/RSJ, GMA Integrated News