Marcos: Ensure food stamp program free from anomaly

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on government agencies on Friday to make sure that the implementation of the food stamp program, called Walang Gutom 2027, will not be marred by irregularities.

In his speech during the launch of the program in Surigao del Norte, Marcos told agencies involved in the implementation of the Walang Gutom 2027 to closely cooperate with each other.

“Tiyakin natin na walang bahid ng anumang anomalya ang mga pamamalakad ng ating mga proyekto,” he said.

[Translation: Let’s make sure that there would be no anomaly in the implementation of these programs.]

The Palace said the food stamp program aims to provide food augmentation to one million households classified under the “food poor criteria” of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The beneficiaries would receive ₱3,000 food credits to buy healthy food, with the following breakdown: 50% of the amount for carbohydrates-rich food, 30% for protein, and 20% for fruits and vegetables.

The food credits would be loaded through an electronic benefit transfer card.

Marcos also assured international aid agencies, the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Food Programme, that their assistance would be received by the beneficiaries.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Rex Remitio contributed to this report.