DSWD, SWS, Globe partner on hunger reduction

GMA Network

26-05-2025

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, telecommunications company Globe, and poll firm Social Weather Stations have partnered to address food insecurity in the country.
DSWD and Globe first initiated 'Walang Gutom Program' aimed at more than just feeding families but also keeping children focused on learning, and giving parents a better chance to work and provide.
The program is set to expand to 300,000 more families in 2025; 150,000 more in 2026; and reach one million households by 2027.
To better understand the impact on families, Globe commissioned SWS, in coordination with DSWD, to carry out a two-wave study on hunger alleviation.
The first wave was conducted from October 7 to 18, 2024, and the second wave from December 1 to 10, 2024. It covered a total of 3,991 household responses—2,011 in wave 1 and 1,980 in wave 2—across 33 provinces nationwide.
'This study proves that when the public and private sectors work together with purpose, we can make a real difference in people's lives,' said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.
'We're honored to support efforts that not only provide digital access, but also help shape better programs through data and insight,' she added.
Months after implementation, the study showwed that the program is making an impact.
Among program beneficiaries, the share of households experiencing hunger dropped by 4.1 percentage points—from 48.7% in October 2024 to 44.6% in December. In contrast, hunger among non-beneficiaries increased by 6.1 points during the same period. The 10.2 percentage point gap between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries shows the positive effect of the intervention.
Significant regional improvements were seen in areas with high vulnerability. In the BARMM-Plus region—which includes the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay—hunger among beneficiaries dropped by 7.3 points, and in the Central-South cluster—Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Cotabato City, Zamboanga del Norte, and Surigao del Norte—the drop was at 5.7 points. A similar trend was observed in severe hunger, where beneficiary households in BARMM-Plus saw a marked decrease of 8.1 percentage points, the highest across all clusters.
The improvements were especially felt in households where women or less-educated members were in charge of meal planning—those often hit hardest by hunger.
'Hunger is one of the most urgent challenges facing vulnerable Filipino families today,' said Linda Luz B. Guerrero, SWS president.
'This study provides clear, data-backed proof that when support is well-targeted, it works. Programs like 'Walang Gutom' help break the cycle of poverty and guide national policy toward real, measurable change,' she added.
Globe is also contributing to the goals of the 'Walang Gutom Program' through its Hapag Movement, a flagship initiative that addresses involuntary hunger by providing both food assistance and livelihood support to vulnerable families.
As of end-2024, the movement had already reached 120,455 families, surpassing its original 2025 target, with the help of P53 million in donations from corporate partners and Globe customers. It also enabled over 4,000 individuals to graduate from upskilling programs designed to equip them with sustainable livelihood skills.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/AOL, GMA Integrated News