The government on Monday launched the merger of its flagship anti-hunger programs—Walang Gutom and Benteng Bigas—introducing beneficiaries to the use of digital transactions for easier and more efficient access to food assistance.

With the merger, beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) can now avail of the PhP20 per kilo rice supplied by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Benteng Bigas Meron Na program, said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.

The WGP currently serves 300,000 low-income households, aiming to reach 750,000 households by 2028.

Castro said in some areas where the combination was launched, transactions were carried out via self-service digital kiosks for easier and faster access to food.

“Kasama ito sa digitalization agenda ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. Ang mga kiosk na ito ay makakatulong sa mga beneficiaries na i-redeem ang kanilang food credits, i-check ang kanilang transactions at i-access ang program information gamit ang QR codes or digital IDs,” Castro said in a press briefing.

“Maliban sa food access, layon din ng programa na palawakin ang kaalaman sa teknolohiya ng mga beneficiaries lalo na iyong mga nasa liblib na lugar,” Castro added.

Previously, WGP beneficiaries only redeemed food credits by presenting their electronic benefit transfer cards at participating stores.

“Sa kabuuan, ipinapakita sa programang ito na ang ‘Walang Gutom’ ay hindi lamang tungkol sa ayuda. Ito ay pamumuhay sa kakayanan at kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino upang mas maging malusog, mas matatag, at mas handa sa makabagong mundo,” Castro said. | PND