The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported an increase in beneficiaries redeeming food assistance under the “Walang Gutom” program.

Tonyson Luther Lee, assistant director for administration of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Central Visayas, said Wednesday that the Jan. 13 to 22 redemption Period No. 12 had listed 26,195 household beneficiaries.

The number is higher than Period No. 11 which has only a total target household beneficiaries of 13,170.

For the current redemption period, Lee said there are a total of 15,761 or the majority of the target beneficiaries who are poor residing in 24 towns and cities in Negros Oriental.

The other 10,434 residents are from the 47 towns and cities in Cebu province, he added.

“Walang Gutom Program is consistent with its objective to decrease involuntary hunger and malnutrition experienced by low-income households while helping them become productive citizens of the country,” he told the Philippine News Agency.

Household beneficiaries can redeem their pre-order food package worth PHP3,000 using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at the partner retailers in their respective municipalities and cities.

Some beneficiaries can also redeem their goods through mobile stores at specific venues identified by the local government units. (PNA)