The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400-million loan to support the expansion of the Philippines’ “Walang Gutom” food stamp program, a key government initiative aimed at reducing food insecurity and undernutrition. The loan will help scale up the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) distribution of electronic food vouchers to more vulnerable households across the country.
Currently, the program benefits around 300,000 families, but with the ADB’s financial support, coverage is set to increase to 750,000 food-insecure households. Each eligible family will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card loaded with ₱3,000 worth of monthly food credits. These can be used at designated partner retailers to purchase a range of nutritious food items, addressing both hunger and malnutrition.
Alongside food assistance, the project also includes monthly education sessions for beneficiaries to promote better nutritional practices and healthy eating habits. The ADB emphasized that the initiative is designed not just to alleviate immediate hunger but to support long-term health and development, particularly for children under five who are most at risk of stunting.
The funding will be further bolstered by co-financing agreements with international development partners. The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will contribute €200 million, while the OPEC Fund for International Development will provide an additional $150 million. These collaborations underscore a growing global commitment to tackle food insecurity in developing nations.
ADB officials noted that nearly half of the Philippine population cannot afford a healthy diet, and childhood undernutrition continues to pose a major threat to future productivity. By expanding the food stamp program, the government hopes to make a meaningful impact on both poverty and public health outcomes in the years ahead. Cali Demi
