An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified on Saturday (November 16) that the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is the flagship program of the agency, not the local government units (LGUs).

“Recently, there has been some confusion with people thinking the WGP is a project of the LGUs. To clarify, while we are grateful for the assistance of the LGUs, the WGP is managed by the DSWD on a national level,” Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay said.

Undersecretary Punay, who is also the concurrent national program director of the WGP,  said LGUs may assist in distributing food baskets for beneficiaries within their jurisdictions during the redemption process.

“The DSWD would like to emphasize that we oversee the program’s operations, including the identification of beneficiaries, the allocation of resources, and the monitoring of its impact,” the DSWD official said.

The DSWD invites the public and the media to visit the official DSWD website and social media pages for any inquiries or clarifications related to the program.

The WGP is a program under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration that aims to reduce hunger and poverty among low-income Filipinos.

The program also seeks to support the beneficiaries’ progress toward recovery and self-sufficiency.

“This includes educational modules on nutrition, preparation for employment, and skill-building to promote long-term resilience,” Undersecretary Punay pointed out.

The WGP targets to feed one million food-poor families by 2027. #