P6B budget for Food Stamp Program approved

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the budgetary requirement of P6 billion for the scaled-up and continued implementation next year of the administration’s flagship food stamp program “Walang Gutom 2027,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) undersecretary Ed Punay said.

Punay, in a news forum last Saturday, said the budget would enable the DSWD to ensure the continued implementation of the Food Stamp Program (FSP), which would benefit 300,000 families starting the second half of next year.

The department is currently on the pilot implementation of the FSP which benefits 3,000 families in Tondo in Manila; Dapa in Siargao; San Mariano in Isabela; Garchitorena in Camarines Sur; and, Parang in Maguindanao.

The pilot implementation of the program is being undertaken by the government with the World Food Programme and the Asian Development Bank.

The program started in July this year and the review of the program implementation will be done from May to June 2024. Its expanded implementation will start by July 2024.

The FSP aims to feed P3,000 worth of nutritious food monthly to 1 million poor families by 2027 while requiring them to seek jobs or be employed while under the program.