INVOLUNTARY hunger among Filipino families enrolled in the government’s flagship anti-hunger program dropped over a three-month period, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday.
At a Palace news briefing, Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian, citing a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by Globe Telecom, said hunger incidence among participants fell to 26.9% in July from 33.6% in March, a 6.7-percentage-point reduction. By comparison, families not in the program saw a marginal 1.4-point reduction to 36.9%.
The survey of 2,400 households tracked three key indicators, including food insecurity, which fell 4.7 points to 89.3% among beneficiaries but rose 0.6 points to 96.5% for non-participants.
SWS Research Fellow Roehlano M. Briones said the divergence is “evidence that the program has truly made a difference” in the rate of hunger reduction.
Food poverty declined 1.4 points to 77.6% for beneficiaries, while non-beneficiaries saw a 1.4-point increase to 85.7%.
SWS Vice-President Gerardo A. Sandoval noted respondents were interviewed “based on their experience with hunger, food insecurity, and food poverty.”
The “Walang Gutom” program provides 3,000 pesos in monthly food credits restricted to specific nutritional groups. To maintain benefits, families must attend sessions on health, nutrition, and upskilling. The DSWD, which has a P241.6-billion allocation in the proposed 2027 budget, plans to expand coverage to 750,000 families.
Maria Yolanda C. Crisanto, Globe Telecom’s chief sustainability officer, warned that child stunting affects 25% of Filipino children.
“Statistics, actually it’s one in four children… we wanna be able to help address child stunting,” Ms. Crisanto said, adding that Globe ensures the partnership’s effectiveness through transparent data and is seeking more private sector allies to help address hunger. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking