DSWD to register 750K 'food poor' families for Walang Gutom Program in 2026

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is targeting to register a total of 750,000 food-poor families for the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) by next year.

"Right now, we're currently serving 300,000 households, and then before the end of the year, we're planning to add an additional 300,000, and then by next year, 150,000," said DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao in a Dobol B TV interview on Saturday.

"Kinakailangan po natin mag-register ng karagdagan sa taon po na ito," Dumlao added.

(We need to register more this year.)

Dumlao said the 750,000 households were based on the list from DSWD and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Currently, the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), which highlights the P20 per kilo rice, is implemented only in Metro Manila, Cebu, and the CARAGA region, Dumlao said.

Poor families in the BARMM are also set to be given priority, the DSWD spokesperson said.

"Actually, bibigyan din sila ng prayoridad, Isinaayos lang 'yung specific areas, tapos 'yung number, and then tinignan din sino-sino 'yung accredited merchants. And then based naman po doon sa ating pakikipag-usap sa DA, bibilisan po na 'yung pag-supply doon sa bigas, doon sa ating mga merchants para ma-implement na po natin," she said.

(Actually, they will be given priority, specific areas are being arranged, their number, and the accredited merchants. Based on our discussions with the DA, we will speed up the supply of rice to our merchants so that we can implement it.)

Beneficiaries of the program may avail themselves of the P20 per kilo rice using their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, which is similar to a debit card loaded with P3,000 every month. —Jamil Santos/ VAL, GMA Integrated News