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Transforming Hunger into Nutrition: The Walang Gutom Program's Impact

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Walang Gutom Program (WGP) is a flagship initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s administration aimed at addressing involuntary hunger in the Philippines. The program provides food assistance in the form of PHP3,000 monthly food credits to food-poor families, which can be used to purchase healthy food items from DSWD-accredited stores. A key component of the WGP is the Nutrition Education Sessions (NES), which teach beneficiaries how to make better food choices and prepare healthy meals for their families.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WGP provides PHP3,000 monthly food credits to food-poor families, which can be used to buy healthy food items from DSWD-accredited stores.
  • The program has enrolled 300,000 households and aims to reach 600,000 food-poor families by the end of 2025 and 750,000 by 2028.
  • The WGP includes Nutrition Education Sessions (NES) that teach beneficiaries how to make better food choices and prepare healthy meals for their families.
  • Fifty percent of the food credit is used to purchase carbohydrates, 30 percent for protein food items, and 20 percent for fibers such as fruits and vegetables.
  • Beneficiaries like Renelyn Deramas and Candice Jhoy Maturan have reported positive changes in their families' eating habits, including eating a balanced diet of nutritious foods.
  • The program's success lies not only in providing food assistance but also in changing beneficiaries' mindsets and habits to make food more nutritious and sufficient for their families.
  • The DSWD aims to reach 750,000 food-poor families by the end of President Marcos' term in 2028.

Statistics:

  • PHP3,000 monthly food credits per food-poor family
  • 300,000 enrolled households in the WGP
  • 20% of food credit allocated for fibers such as fruits and vegetables
  • 30% of food credit allocated for protein food items
  • 50% of food credit allocated for carbohydrates such as rice, sweet potato, and others
  • 600,000 food-poor families targeted to be reached by the end of 2025
  • 750,000 food-poor families targeted to be reached by 2028

Sources:

  • Philippines News agency, Manila -- 15 Jul 2025
  • DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao's statement on the WGP
  • Quotes from Renelyn Deramas and Candice Jhoy Maturan, WGP beneficiaries

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