Fewer are hungry among ‘Walang Gutom’ beneficiaries

Fewer are hungry among ‘Walang Gutom’ beneficiaries | Daily Tribune

The “Walang Gutom Program,” a joint initiative of Globe and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to address food insecurity, is making an impact as a national survey found that it has lessened hunger levels among beneficiaries from low-income households compared to non-beneficiaries.

The Globe-commissioned survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS), in coordination with DSWD, was conducted on 7 to 18 October 2024 and 1 to 10 December 2024, covering a total of 3,991 household responses in 33 provinces.

Among program beneficiaries, the share of households experiencing hunger dropped by 4.1 percentage points — from 48.7 percent in October 2024 to 44.6 percent in December.

In contrast, hunger among non-beneficiaries increased by 6.1 points during the same period. The 10.2 percentage point gap between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries shows the positive effect of the intervention.

“This study proves that when the public and private sectors work together with purpose, we can make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group chief sustainability and corporate communications officer.

Just months after implementation, the survey shows the program’s significant improvements in areas with high vulnerability. In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Plus (BARMM-Plus) region — which includes the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay — hunger among beneficiaries dropped by 7.3 points.

In the Central-South cluster — Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Cotabato City, Zamboanga del Norte and Surigao del Norte — the drop was at 5.7 points.

A similar trend was observed in severe hunger, where beneficiary households in BARMM-Plus saw a marked decrease of 8.1 percentage points, the highest across all clusters.

The improvements were especially felt in households where women or less-educated members were in charge of meal planning — those often hit hardest by hunger. At the same time, the study shows that many families still struggle with severe food insecurity and keeping the program strong is important.

“Hunger is one of the most urgent challenges facing vulnerable Filipino families today,” said Linda Luz B. Guerrero, president at SWS. “This study provides clear, data-backed proof that when support is well-targeted, it works. Programs like ‘Walang Gutom’ help break the cycle of poverty and guide national policy toward real, measurable change.”

The “Walang Gutom Program” is more than just about feeding families. It helps keep children focused on learning, and gives parents a better chance to work and provide. By reducing hunger, it builds stronger, more resilient communities.

The program is set to expand to 300,000 more families in 2025, 150,000 more in 2026, and reach one million households by 2027 — affirming its long-term commitment to food security nationwide.

Globe is contributing to the goals of the “Walang Gutom Program” through its Hapag Movement, a flagship initiative that addresses involuntary hunger by providing both food assistance and livelihood support to vulnerable families. As of end-2024, the movement had already reached 120,455 families, surpassing its original 2025 target, with the help of ₱53 million in donations from corporate partners and Globe customers.

The Hapag Movement also enabled over 4,000 individuals to graduate from upskilling programs designed to equip them with sustainable livelihood skills.

For Globe, the work doesn’t stop at connectivity. By combining innovation with compassion, the company hopes to bring meaningful innovations and programs that uplift the life of every Filipino.