‘Walang Gutom’ cards for food packages only

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Western Visayas (DSWD-6) has reminded beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program in Negros Occidental that Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards are exclusively for purchasing food items.

“It will be credited with P3,000 every month for redeeming food packages. It is not an ATM because they cannot use it for withdrawing cash, but it can be used to redeem food packages,” said DSWD-6 information officer, Atty. May Rago-Castillo.

Rago-Castillo said the EBT cards can be used to purchase nutritious food from DSWD’s partner merchants until 2027.

DSWD-6 has partnered with 17 retailers to supply food products to beneficiary households.

There are seven accredited retailers in E.B. Magalona town and 11 others in Victorias City, where the anti-hunger program was launched in July.

These retailers will offer healthy food items in a ratio of 50 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and 20 percent fruits and vegetables.

DSWD-6 said they are targeting 43,021 low-income households to help reduce the incidence of malnutrition and hunger they are experiencing.

Among the 13 cities, Kabankalan City has the highest number of beneficiaries with 4,282 households, followed by San Carlos City with 3,292, Himamaylan City with 2,769, Sagay City with 2,695, Cadiz City with 2,461, and Bago City with 2,392.

In the municipalities, Cauayan has the most beneficiaries with 2,384 households, followed by Calatrava with 1,915, Murcia with 1,194, La Castellana with 1,164, Isabela with 1,124, Hinoba-an with 1,115, Ilog with 965, Moises Padilla with 954, and Toboso with 923.

“We see this as a big boost for household beneficiaries fighting against hunger, especially in our target households. This will ensure that they have the means to buy food,” Rago-Castillo said.

“This is a big help to the anti-poverty and anti-hunger campaign of the national government,” she added.

Negros Occidental was selected by the DSWD central office as one of the pioneer recipients of the program based on the Listahanan, or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, which indicated a high prevalence of poverty.