DSWD: 600K families to be part of Walang Gutom Program by yearend

NO HUNGRY FILIPINO. A community engagement coordinator of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducts a market commodity price assessment on July 23, 2025. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Wednesday (Sept. 3, 2025) said they are eyeing the inclusion of around 600,000 "food-poor" families in the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) by yearend. (Photo courtesy of DSWD Walang Gutom Program FB)

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is eyeing the inclusion of around 600,000 "food-poor" families in the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) by yearend.

This was after DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said there is enough evidence that the Walang Gutom Program can be expanded since it is "working" in helping food-poor households.

Gatchalian said an additional 150,000 families experiencing involuntary hunger will be part of the program next year.

"Sa mga darating ng buwan tulad ng na-report namin the last time, nasa process na kami ng pag-expand ng (In the coming months, as we reported last time, we are in the process of expanding the) program," Gatchalian said in a Palace press briefing.

"By the end of the year, 600,000 will be part of this program from 300,000. And then by the first half of next year, the last 150,000, so that we can reach the total of 750,000 food-poor families recorded by the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority)," he added.

A survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations in March 2025 showed hunger prevalence among WGP beneficiaries dropped by 7.2 percentage points, with the most notable improvement seen in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) - Plus cluster, where hunger incidence fell by 17.4 percentage points.

The BARMM-Plus cluster includes Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, Gatchalian said.

As of August 2025, the WGP is supporting 300,000 household beneficiaries nationwide and working with 1,017 accredited retail partners, including 639 women-led enterprises.

Each WGP beneficiary receives PHP3,000 worth of monthly food credits through Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, redeemable at partner retailers. (PNA)

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