malaysiangDepartment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday said a technical working group (TWG) has been formed to ensure that the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP) will achieve its goal of decreasing the incidence of voluntary hunger experienced by low-income households. Gatchalian made this remark as he welcomed Malacañang’s issuance of Executive Order (EO) 44 establishing the Walang Gutom 2027: FSP as a flagship project of the Marcos administration, The DSWD has been named the lead agency in crafting the rules and guidelines for the implementation of the program. ‘We in the DSWD are pleased to be the lead agency of this flagship program of President (Ferdinand) Marcos in achieving zero hunger in the country. Rest assured that the department will do the tasks to make this program work through the whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approaches,’ Gatchalian said in a statement. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed EO 44 on Oct. 12, directing the DSWD to work in close coordination with concerned national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and other private entities to guarantee the systematic and efficient delivery of assistance to qualified FSP beneficiaries. ‘The DSWD shall undertake the necessary steps for the successful implementation and expansion of the Food Stamp Program including, but not limited to, the identification of eligible beneficiaries and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure efficient and timely distribution and use of food stamps,’ the EO said. Under EO 44, all relevant NGAs are directed, while all participating LGUs are enjoined, to provide full support to, and cooperation with the DSWD to ensure the effective implementation of the program. Under the guidance of Gatchalian, the DSWD’s TWG for the FSP will lead the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations of EO 44 within 30 days upon its effectivity. Launched on July 18 in Tondo, Manila and rolled out in Siargao Island on Sept. 29, the FSP is a fully digitized program of the DSWD that aims to fight involuntary hunger by providing food augmentation to the bottom one million households based on Listahanan 3, who are classified as belonging to the food-poor criteria as defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), including pregnant and nursing mothers. The program is set to hold its third Nutrition Education Session and fourth Redemption Day for its pilot beneficiaries in Tondo on Oct. 18. The FSP is being implemented in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Nutrition Council, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, World Food Programme, Asian Development Bank, Pilipinas Kontra Gutom Movement, and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).
Source: Philippines News Agency
