Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 18) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said it was his administration’s goal to eradicate hunger in the country, calling it the “most insidious influence” that hinders people’s development.
The president, along with Vice President Sara Duterte and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, led the kick-off activity of Walang Gutom 2027, the country’s first food stamp program in Tondo, Manila.
It is the dream of any government, of any leader that we are able to do something about hunger around our countries,” Marcos said a speech at the event.He described hunger as “the most important, and the most insidious influence of our people that gets in the way of the development of each individual and thus, the entire society.Marcos added that despite efforts to rise from poverty, the problems of hunger and malnutrition remain.
In May, the DSWD said the food stamp program aims to help one million Filipino families who belong to the lowest income bracket. It would be funded by grants from the Asian Development Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the French Development Agency.
Marcos approved the program in June.
On Tuesday, the president said a food stamp program was important, especially as the country continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.Speaking to the media after the kick-off event, Marcos said the ADB and the World Food Programme would be among those that will help the country fund the food stamp program.
“In terms of funding palagay ko we will be able to sustain (the food stamp program) for as long as we need it. Pero gaya ng aking sinasabi, dahan-dahan sana, maayos na natin yung ibang sitwasyon para hindi na nangangailanan ng tulong,” he said.
“Pero there will always be an element na kailangan pa rin, so you will never see na mawawala lahat ito…baka lumiit pag gumanda na ang ekonomiya,” the president added.
[Translation: In terms of funding, I believe we will be able to sustain this as long as we need it. But like I said, I hope we can slowly fix the other situations so help will not be needed anymore. But there will always be an element where it is needed, so it can never be gone…it might just be smaller as the economy improves.]
Among the programs of the DSWD are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which is a conditional cash transfer program that provides cash grants to poor households, the Kalahi-CIDSS program, the sustainable livelihood program, the sustainable feeding program, and the social pension program.
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