The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is ramping up its efforts to combat hunger through its Walang Gutom Program (WGP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, following alarming findings from the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which showed an increase in hunger incidence among Filipino families.

“We acknowledge the growing challenge of food insecurity, and the latest survey underscores the urgent need to enhance and expand the Walang Gutom Program,” said Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, DSWD spokesperson, on Sunday.

The SWS survey, conducted between 15 and 20 March, revealed that 27.2 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months.

Currently, the DSWD is providing P3,000 monthly in food aid to 300,000 food-poor households, benefiting 1.5 million individuals across the country.

“As Secretary Rex Gatchalian has always emphasized, addressing hunger may be challenging, but it is achievable. That’s why we are strengthening our Walang Gutom Program and other hunger alleviation initiatives in collaboration with other government agencies,” Dumlao stated.

In its hunger relief efforts, the DSWD aims to enroll more beneficiaries in areas where hunger is most critical, with a target of assisting 750,000 food-poor families by 2027.