MANILA — Beneficiaries of the government’s Walang Gutom 2027 food stamp program can now purchase ₱20-per-kilo rice from accredited retailers, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced Monday.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the official launch of the “Benteng Bigas, Meron na sa WGP” initiative during a rice redemption activity in Tondo, Manila. The initiative allows Walang Gutom Program (WGP) participants to access subsidized rice through Department of Agriculture-accredited suppliers, including Kadiwa outlets, on designated redemption days.
“This is the start of making ₱20 rice available to WGP beneficiaries,” Gatchalian said. “As the President directed, this initiative should directly benefit the most vulnerable—those who are among the poorest of the poor.”
Currently, the WGP covers around 300,000 food-insecure Filipinos, with plans to expand to 750,000 by 2026. The pilot rollout of the ₱20 rice program has also begun in Cebu and Caraga, alongside Manila.
The Walang Gutom 2027 program uses electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards loaded with ₱3,000 monthly food credits, allowing beneficiaries to buy essential food items from registered retailers. Beneficiaries are also required to attend nutrition seminars and must have at least one employable family member who will receive job training through the Department of Labor and Employment or TESDA.