Cebu: Food stamp redemption under the Walang Gutom Program is ongoing in Cebu and Negros Oriental, benefiting 26,195 households, a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official said Thursday. Tonyson Luther Lee, DSWD-Central Visayas assistant regional director for administration, announced that the redemption, part of Period 12, runs from January 13 to 22.

According to Philippines News Agency, on January 14, 344 households in two northern Cebu municipalities redeemed food commodities. These included 188 beneficiaries in Liloan and 156 in Poro town on Camotes Islands. In southern Cebu, 801 households across six municipalities accessed food packages. Partner retailers served 259 beneficiaries in Pinamungahan, 253 in Barili, 173 in Dumanjug, 75 in Malabuyoc, 26 in Ronda, and 15 in Aloguinsan.

In Negros Oriental, food stamp distribution began last year in Pamplona town. The Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP), a flagship initiative under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, aims to reduce involuntary hunger among low-income households. Beneficiaries receive PHP3,000 in monthly food credits via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to purchase approved food items from partner merchants. The program integrates digital platforms to ensure efficient delivery of social protection services.