PBBM leads launch of electronic food vouchers for ‘Walang Gutom’ beneficiaries

By Brian Campued

Consistent with the administration’s efforts to reduce involuntary hunger among poor families, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday oversaw the rollout of electronic vouchers for beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), expanding their access to nutritious food.

During the launch of the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (REFUEL) Project at San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila, the President reiterated the ultimate goal of the WGP that no Filipino goes hungry in the “Bagong Pilipinas”.

“Kung maalala ninyo, noong bago akong upo, tinanong sa akin, ano ang pangarap ko sa aking termino bilang Presidente? Ay, ang sagot ko, sana naman magawa natin na pag-alis ko bilang Pangulo ay wala nang gutom na Pilipino,” he said.

He cited a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that hunger prevalence among WGP beneficiaries went down from 48.7% in October 2024 to 41.5% in March 2025—a drop of 7.2 percentage points in just six months.

“Palagay ko, pagkatapos ng taon, makikita natin mas bababa pa. Dahan-dahan po na natutupad po ang pangarap po ng inyong Pangulo, ang pangarap po ng lahat ng Pilipino na wala nang ginugutom na pamilya dito sa atin,” Marcos said.

For the REFUEL Project, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has partnered with the Asian Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, and the OPEC Fund to expand the WGP’s coverage to 750,000 households nationwide by 2026 through electronic vouchers.

The WGP provides P3,000 monthly electronic food credits to each beneficiary through an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, which can be used at accredited partner retailers to purchase essential food.

Under the program, P1,500 must be spent on carbohydrates or rice, P900 on protein such as meat, and P600 on vegetables, ensuring that recipients get proper nutrition.

The REFUEL Project integrates digital systems, nutrition education, and community partnerships to ensure food security and improve the country’s social protection programs.

The automated system allows beneficiaries to monitor food purchases, track remaining food credits, and pre-order from DSWD-accredited retailers.

“Sa programang ito, magkasama po ang food assistance, ‘yung pagbigay po ng mura na pagkain; nutrition education, na nakakaunawa kung ano ang mga kailangan na kainin na iba’t ibang klaseng pagkain para maging malakas po ang ating katawan, matibay po ang ating kalusugan,” Marcos said.

DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian said the launch of the REFUEL Project reflects the administration’s commitment to develop evidence-based, sustainable programs that “respond to the needs of Filipino families and promote inclusive growth.”

“This program highlights our collective fight against the scourge of hunger and our nation’s commitment to ending it once and for all,” Gatchalian said in a Facebook post. (with report from Clay Pardilla / PTV News)

-jpv