The government will sustain funding for the Food Stamp Program (FSP) for as long as necessary, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gave assurance on Tuesday in response to concerns raised on the allocation for the program in the coming years.

“In terms of funding, I think we will be able to sustain ito for as long as we need it,” Marcos said in an interview with the media after the kick-off activity of the FSP in Tondo, Manila.

President Marcos said that from the private sector, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Food Program (WFP) are among the organizations extending support to such initiatives. The government itself has also allocated resources for the implementation of the program, he said.

While stressing the importance of gradually resolving underlying issues to reduce the overreliance on government aid, the President also acknowledged that there would still be individuals and sectors who will require assistance.

“Dahan-dahan sana maayos na natin ‘yung ibang sitwasyon para hindi na nangagailangan ng tulong. But there will always be an element na may kailangan pa rin,” he said.

The pilot phase of the FSP will run from July 2023 to March 2024, with a total funding from the ADB amounting to $3-million.

In a separate engagement, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that the agency is already in talks with economic managers for the allocation of the program.

Gatchalian also mentioned that there is already an initial fund of P2.1 billion for the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Progam earmarked under the National Expenditure Program for next year. #