President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday expanded his administration’s flagship anti-hunger program, launching the REFUEL (Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers) Project to widen coverage of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).
Speaking during a World Food Day “Kumustahan” event at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila, said the newly launched REFUEL Project will expand the program to 750,000 households by 2026, with a goal of reaching one million families in the coming years.
Mr. Marcos also highlighted upgrades to the program’s digital system, allowing beneficiaries to track balances, review purchases, and eventually link payments to mobile platforms.
“We started with paper booklets. Now everything is automated. We’ll guide you through it, it’s simple,” he said.
The President credited the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Agence Française de Développement, and the OPEC Fund for International Development for their support.
President Marcos said the government food program’s blend of food assistance and nutrition education is helping reduce hunger among the poorest families.
“In this program, food assistance is provided together with affordable meals; nutrition education helps us understand what kinds of foods to eat to keep our bodies strong and our health robust,” the president said.
He reported that hunger among WGP beneficiaries has declined from 48.7 percent in October 2024 to 41.5 percent in March 2025, based on Social Weather Stations data.
“The results are encouraging. We are steadily moving toward a Philippines where no family goes hungry,” he said.
Under WGP, each enrolled household receives P3,000 in monthly electronic food credits via EBT cards, which can be used to buy essential items such as rice, meat, fish, and vegetables.
He further cited complementary nutrition initiatives, including the First 1,000 Days program and school-based feeding.
“Proper nutrition in early childhood shapes our children’s development,” he said.
President Marcos reaffirmed his goal from the start of his term: to leave office with no Filipino suffering from hunger.
