The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is pushing for a stronger whole-of-government approach to address hunger and food insecurity following the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which showed an increase in involuntary hunger among Filipino families.
The March 2026 SWS survey recorded 23.2 percent of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger – or being hungry and having nothing to eat at least once in the past three months – higher than the 20.1 percent recorded in November 2025.
“We acknowledge the result of the SWS survey. Isa po ito sa mga tinitignan natin para mas mapaigting natin ang mga programa at malaman ano ang mga dapat nating baguhin (This is one of the indicators we are looking at to strengthen the program and know what needs to be modified),” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release on Wednesday.
“Sa nangyayaring tensyon sa Middle East, marami talaga sa ating mga kababayan ang naapektuhan, kaakibat ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis ay ang pagtaas din ng presyo ng bilihin (With the ongoing tension in the Middle East, many of our countrymen are really affected by the fuel price hikes alongside food price hikes).”
Dumlao said addressing hunger requires convergence among national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), private organizations, civil society groups, and communities.
“This is exactly why we continue to push for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in addressing hunger. Food security and poverty alleviation require coordinated and sustained action from all sectors,” she added.
To encourage LGUs and communities to continue proactively contributing to the government’s fight against hunger, the DSWD holds the Walang Gutom Awards.
On Tuesday, the DSWD recognized 20 LGUs nationwide for notable initiatives to address hunger and food insecurity.
The top 1 to 10 LGUs received a PHP2-million allocation each in livelihood assistance, while the top 11 to 20 received a PHP1-million allocation each under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
“Isinusulong po natin ang ganitong mga inisyatiba upang mas mapalakas natin ang ating partnership sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at komunidad. Ang mga natanggap nila na livelihood allocation ay magagamit nila upang mas palaguin at mas palawakin ang mga programa sa kanilang komunidad na naglalayong wakasan ang kagutuman (We are advancing these initiatives to further strengthen our partnership with the LGUs and communities. They can utilize the livelihood allocations they receive to promote and expand programs within their communities that aim to end hunger),” Dumlao said.
The DSWD also continues to implement programs, in partnership with other government agencies and the private sector, to reduce food insecurity among vulnerable sectors.
Through the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), the DSWD provides food credits and nutrition support to food-poor households nationwide.
“Before President Ferdinand R. Marcos (Jr.) steps out of office, we target to complete and assist 750,000 food-poor families through our WGP. Ngayon po ay nasa 600,000 na ang na-enroll natin sa programa at sila ay buwan-buwan nakatatanggap ng food commodities (To date, we have already enrolled 600,000 in the program and they are receiving food commodities monthly),” Dumlao said.
The DSWD also plans to expand its Walang Gutom Kitchen, which provides free hot meals to individuals experiencing hunger.
“We plan to expand the program, with a new WGK set to open in Cebu and another being eyed in Zamboanga City,” Dumlao added. (PNA)
