DSWD, DA launch 'Benteng Bigas' for PHP20/kg rice to WGP beneficiaries

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched 'Benteng Bigas, Meron na sa WGP' on Monday to provide PHP20 per kg rice to over 300,000 Walang Gutom Program beneficiaries.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian highlighted that this initiative fulfills President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure vulnerable sectors have access to affordable staple food.

Under the WGP, each household receives PHP3,000 worth of monthly food credits via electronic benefit transfer cards for healthy food items from accredited retailers.

With the new program, beneficiaries can now purchase more than double the amount of carbohydrates they previously could with their existing credits.

The DA is committed to ensuring marginalized families have steady access to affordable, nutritious food through Kadiwa outlets and accredited suppliers supporting the WGP.

To date, the program has served over 300,000 families and aims to reach 750,000 households by 2028.