MANILA – Even before the recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed concerning data on hunger and poverty in the Philippines, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had already directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to devise innovative initiatives aimed at eradicating hunger and poverty across the nation. This directive aligns with President Marcos’ ambition to eliminate hunger and foster a more inclusive country where no one is left behind.
As a result, the DSWD introduced the Food Stamp Program (FSP), a pioneering effort primarily designed to address the persistent challenges of food poverty and malnutrition among low-income Filipino households. The program provides meal augmentation valued at PHP 3,000 on a monthly basis. Currently in a pilot phase, the FSP is scheduled for expansion in mid-2024.
The FSP aims to benefit a total of 1 million families classified as ‘food poor,’ as per criteria defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Pregnant and nursing mothers also qualify for this assistance. Pilot areas for the program include Tondo, Manila, and the regions of Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
To ensure continuity of the FSP’s meal augmentation program, the President has already approved its regular budget for 2024.
Another vital program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), supports 4.4 million households considered the “poorest of the poor,” benefiting 20 million individuals through monthly subsidies for their children’s education and healthcare.
The combined efforts of 4.4 million families under the 4Ps and 1 million “food-poor” families enrolled in the Food Stamp Program are expected to further reduce the number of impoverished families in the coming months.
This strategic endeavor to reduce the number of people who perceive themselves as “poor” is anchored in the positive trend identified in the recent SWS survey. The survey disclosed that 25% of families regarded themselves as “hindi mahirap” or “not poor,” marking a three-point increase from the June figures.
The latest SWS survey, conducted from September 28 to October 1, revealed that nearly half, or 48%, of Filipino families categorized themselves as poor during the third quarter of the year. This new survey estimated that around 13.2 million families view themselves as poor, slightly higher than the 12.5 million estimated in June 2023.
The DSWD’s vision encompasses a future where all Filipinos are free from hunger and poverty, enjoying equal access to opportunities within a fair, just, and peaceful society. This vision harmonizes with the DSWD’s mission to lead in formulating, implementing, and coordinating social welfare and development policies and programs aimed at benefiting the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged.
