ILOILO — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is accelerating efforts to fight hunger in Western Visayas, rolling out the expanded Walang Gutom Program (WGP) to Capiz and Caluya, Antique — a major step toward the government’s nationwide scale-up target for 2025.
The expansion, officials said, aims to cushion struggling households amid rising economic pressures while pushing forward the administration’s commitment under Executive Order No. 44, which institutionalizes the WGP as a flagship anti-hunger initiative.
OIC Regional Program Coordinator Kimberly Muzones said the program’s reach continues to widen as more communities undergo verification for enrollment.
Muzones reported that 277 individuals in Caluya are now undergoing field validation, while 2,314 beneficiaries in Capiz are set for verification beginning next week. The rollout covers Roxas City and the municipalities of Dumalag, Dumarao, Jamindan, Ma-ayon, Mambusao, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, Sapian, and Tapaz.
“This expansion is an integral part of our 2025 roadmap,” Muzones stated.
She added that the agency aims “to onboard an additional 10,842 beneficiaries from the provinces of Antique, Iloilo, and Capiz,” on top of the 42,563 beneficiaries already receiving assistance across Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental.
“Together, we are working to ensure that no family is left behind in our quest to end hunger,” she noted.
To ensure that local government units (LGUs) are fully equipped for the expanded rollout, the Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) has conducted orientation sessions outlining their roles in verification and implementation.
Beneficiary selection includes one-on-one interviews using the Integrated Walang Gutom Management System (IWGMS), which evaluates food security, hunger levels, and socio-economic factors to prioritize households facing severe food poverty.
Under the WGP, beneficiaries receive P3,000 in monthly food credits through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, enabling them to purchase essential food items — from carbohydrates and protein sources to fiber-rich products — for improved nutrition and dietary balance.
Muzones also emphasized that verification efforts remain “diligent” as the agency works toward the 100,000 verified beneficiaries target nationwide, reinforcing the government’s commitment to reducing hunger and supporting vulnerable Filipino families.
As the program expands across Western Visayas, DSWD officials hope it will serve as a lifeline for thousands striving for food security and a more stable future./PN
