MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Friday that the objective of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) is to make families self-sufficient, not to foster dependency.
“The program participants are fully aware that they are required to work, as the program is designed to last only three years, as mandated by Executive Order 44,” WGP Deputy Program Manager Camille Anne Taguba said.
She added that as part of the program’s requirements, beneficiaries must participate in productivity enhancement sessions designed to improve their skills and prepare them for livelihood opportunities.
The DSWD, Taguba said, is in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment in conducting job fairs, and with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in holding livelihood short-term courses.
Flexibility is built into the program, allowing household members other than the family head to take advantage of employability opportunities.
“The program allows any employable household member, not just the head of the family, to attend productivity enhancement sessions and seek employment to develop sustainable livelihoods,” Taguba said.
For 2025, the DSWD plans to expand the program to reach an additional 300,000 households, bringing the total coverage to 600,000 beneficiaries.
By 2026, the Department targets to serve up to 750,000 families nationwide.
The Walang Gutom Program, considered the flagship initiative of the Marcos administration in combating involuntary hunger, provides food-poor families with P3,000 worth of food credits every month.
