From the pilot implementation of the food stamp program, targeting an initial 3,000 families this year, it will be scaled up to 300,000 households by July 2024, just in time for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order No. 44 aiming for the "Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program" to be implemented in full swing.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary for Innovations Eduardo Punay disclosed this at yesterday:s Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Punay said the Department is finishing the pilot implementation of the program in five pilot sites –Tondo, Manila; Dapa, Siargao; San Mariano in Isabela; Garchitorena in Camarines Sur; and Parang, Maguindano that will run until mid-next year. It includes 3,000 families identified by the pilot implementer, the World Food Program funded with a $3 million grant from the Asian Development Bank.

"Now, come next year, we'll have the full run, the full implementation of the program which targets one million households po talaga iyan nationwide – our food-poor families nationwide. And next year when we scale-up, there will be 300,000 beneficiaries (number), household. And parte po nitong declaration ni President, EO44, ng kaniyang order is iyong provision ng budget po. Kasama po iyan kaya na-institutionalize, may budget na po—magkakaroon po tayo ng budget sa GAA, sa national budget ng ating pamahalaan," Punay explained referring to the P6 billion budgetary requirement for the program which the Department of Budget and Management has already committed.

Punay said they will prioritize 30 to 40 provinces identified by the National Nutrition Council with the highest incidence of malnutrition and hunger.

Under the program, the DSWD will provide electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that will be loaded with food credits amounting to P3,000 per month to purchase a select list of food commodities from DSWD-registered or -accredited retailers.

The food credits shall be allocated to carbohydrate-rich foods such as rice at P1,500, 30 percent for proteins like meat at P900, and 20 percent for fruits, vegetables, oil, salt, as well as condiments at P600.

The food stamp Program will run until 2027 and will require a total estimated budget of P40 billion as it targets one million food-poor families or those earning less than P8,000 in a month.

Punay said they will gradually increase the number of beneficiaries from 300,000 in the first year, to another 300,000 in the second year, and 400,000 in the third for a total of one million food-poor household beneficiaries.