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IN MET R MANILAO

VOL. XXXVII • NO. 151 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES JULY 16, 2023

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GOV’T TO LAUNCH FOOD STAMP PROGRAM TUESDAY THE SIX-MONTH PILOT RUN OF THE PROGRAM WILL START WITH INITIAL 50 POOR TONDO FAMILIES AS BENEFICIARIES

HE government will roll out its food stamp program Tuesday, with 50 poor families from Tondo, Manila as initial beneficiaries, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said Saturday. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the pilot implementation of “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” would have a “gradual phasing.” “We will inform you with the details on Monday. Palaki nang palaki yan until we hit the pilot mark na 3,500 families nationwide,” Gatchalian said in a news forum in Quezon City. “After six months of its initial run, we will look at the results. If we get

positive results, then we scale up, where it will be initially 300,000 families, and then another 300,000 the year after, until we reach our goal of one million families identified as food-poor,” Gatchalian said. The Walang Gutom 2027 program, under the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will provide assistance to eligible families through electronic benefit cards similar to tap cards, loaded with food credits instead of cash.

Gatchalian said the use of e-cards would eliminate the chances of buyouts, similar to those in ATM cards. “The goal of this program is to empower our countrymen—foodpoor fellow citizens—to choose the right needs of their family,” he said. The DSWD also worked with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide reskilling opportunities, enabling participants to gain appropriate skills and certifications and increasing their chances of finding employment. Gatchalian said the pilot program received $3-million in funding from the Asian Development Bank and other stakeholders. The ADB and the World Food Program will jointly oversee the funds and procurement processes for the

pilot run. Gatchalian said they would disclose the complete details on Monday. “We will kick off on Tuesday,” he said. The program aims to eradicate hunger and poverty by providing an allowance to at least one million “food poor” families or those earning less than P8,000 a month to purchase a select list of food items from accredited local retailers. “The food stamp program has conditions for the beneficiaries, including attending nutrition classes and having one employed family member who can later take skills upgrade training under the Department of Labor and Employment or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority,” Gatchalian said.

MAKATI FC BAGS 4 TITLES IN DENMARK NEWS | A2

YOUNG SWIMMERS READY TO COMPETE IN PALARO SPORTS | B4

JAMES REID COMBINES MUSIC, ROLLER SKATING YOUNG LIFE | C1

JAPANESE RESTAURANT OFFERS P4,988 BUFFET CRAVINGS | C3

FILIPINOS LIST PRESSING ISSUES A WEEK BEFORE PRESIDENT’S SONA By Maricel V. Cruz

‘BANGA’ DANCE. Members of the Kalinga Cultural Dance Troupe perform the ‘Banga dance’ while balancing pots to the beat of the gongs at the 36th Cordillera Month celebrations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had to cancel his attendance at the last minute due to tropical depression ‘Dodong’ which prevented his party from flying to Luna, Apayao. Dave Loperozo

PH BET RUNNER-UP IN MISS SUPRANATIONAL By Nickie Wang MISS Ecuador, Andrea Aguilera, 22, was crowned Miss Supranational 2023 on Friday night (early Saturday morning in Manila) at Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Małopolska, Poland. However, it was Miss Philippines Pauline Amelinckx who captured the hearts of online fans, with many fervently believing she deserved the crown. Fans took to Twitter to express overwhelming support for the Filipino beauty queen, causing her name to trend for several hours after the conclusion of the coro-

nation night. Miss Supranational 2023 showcased a stunning lineup of international beauty and talent, featuring 65 contestants from different countries. As the competition neared its climax, theTop 5 finalists, including Aguilera, Sancler Frantz of Brazil, Emma Rose Collingridge of the United Kingdom, Pauline Amelinckx of the Philippines and Ngan Dang Thanh of Vietnam eagerly awaited the final verdict. Aguilera’s response during the highly anticipated question-and-answer segment resonated with the judges, ultimately leading to her victory.

MISS SUPRANATIONAL 2023. Miss Philippines

Pauline Amelinckx (left) and Miss Ecuador Andrea Aguilera await the announcement of the new Miss Supranational 2023 on Friday night at Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Małopolska, Poland. Aguilera, 22, won the title, with Amelinckx as her runner-up.

FILIPINOS expect President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address the country’s pressing issues such as high inflation, poverty, unemployment, corruption and the economy in general, according to the results of a second-quarter survey which were released a week before the Chief Executives’ second State of the Nation Address on July 24. This is based on the PAHAYAG 2023-Q2 survey results which say that Filipinos want the president to “primary focus on these pressing issues.” About 17 percent of Filipinos consider the Philippine economy as the most important macro issue for President Marcos to address. signifi “This finding highlights the significance placed on economic stability and growth by a substantial por portion of the population,” says the survey. Corruption was also a major concern, with 14 percent of re respondents identifying it as a critical issue. The poll says 13 percent of participants expressed worries over high prices and inflation, while poverty and unemployment received 12 percent and 10 percent of the respondents’ attention, respectively.