Walang Gutom Program beneficiaries can use EBT card to buy P20/kg rice — DSWD

Beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) may avail the P20 per kilo rice using their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

According to Dano Tingcungco’s Monday report on “24 Oras,” an EBT card is similar to a debit card loaded with P3,000 per month.

The card can be used to buy food included in DSWD’s pre-identified food group from Kadiwa-accredited retailers.

The available food products can provide the required carbohydrates and proteins for a family’s dietary needs.

“Restricted yung menu ng food stamps natin. Binibigyan natin ng kapangyarihang pumili ang mga pamilya. Alam natin sa carbohydrates may bigas at sweet potato. Samu’t saring carbohydrates na pwede nilang pagpilian so may portion dun na napupunta sa bigas,” Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.

(Our food stamp menu is restricted. We give families the power to choose. We know that carbohydrates include rice and sweet potatoes. They have a variety of carbohydrates to choose from, so a portion of that goes to rice.)

The WGP beneficiaries are guided in choosing the food they will purchase. A receipt will be handed out to them after they check out at a kiosk.

The beneficiaries do not need to max out the P3,000 credit, but it's better to maximize the amount since it aims to address zero hunger.

The DSWD said beneficiaries cannot also ask for an advance credit and will have to wait for another month before the balance in the card is topped up.

Minimum wage earners can also buy the P20 kilo rice even without the EBT. For now, 10 kilos of rice can be bought per person, but the government aims to have an additional kilo in the next months.

It is being implemented with the coordination of their employers.

DSWD said about 120,000 minimum wage earners are benefiting from the P20 kilo rice program, but the government aims to have one million beneficiaries before the year ends.

Meanwhile, at least 300,000 Walang Gutom Program beneficiaries are benefiting from the P20 kilo rice program. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News