PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday launched the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (Refuel) Project, a government-led initiative that would scale up the Walang Gutom Program’s (WGP) coverage to 750,000 households by 2026. The president, together with Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, led the launching of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Refuel Project at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila. In his speech, Marcos said the government plans to expand the coverage of the Walang Gutom Program to 600,000 families in 2026 and 750,000 families in 2027. “Our goal is to reach 1 million of the poorest families. We’re doing this gradually because we’re still developing the system, but little by little, we will be able to cover all the poorest — the 1 million most disadvantaged families — under this program,” he said. Marcos also expressed optimism the program would significantly lower hunger rates, reaffirming his goal of a Philippines where no family goes hungry. “If you remember, when I had just assumed office, I was asked what my dream was for my term as President. My answer was, I hope that by the time I step down as President, no Filipino will have to go hungry. That’s why we have programs like this,” he said. The Refuel Project, which has a total cost of P74 billion, is supported by a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and co-financed by the Agence Française de Développement and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries-Fund for International Development. Gatchalian said the launch of Refuel marked another milestone in the DSWD’s efforts to innovate food assistance programs and ensure that every Filipino family has access to nutritious, delicious and affordable food. The WGP, recognized as a flagship program of the Marcos administration under Executive Order 44, is the country’s version of the food stamp program implemented in other countries. Under the program, an eligible household receives P3,000 in food credits each month for 36 months through an electronic benefit transfer card. The card can be used at accredited partner retailers to purchase essential food items. Beneficiaries also participate in Nutrition Education Sessions and Productivity Enhancement Sessions designed to promote healthy eating, improve livelihood skills and enhance self-reliance. Gatchalian cited the latest Social Weather Stations survey showing a steady decline in hunger among program beneficiaries — from 48.7 percent in October 2024 to 41.5 percent in March 2025. “This means fewer families are going to bed hungry because more of them can now put food on their tables,” he said. He thanked President Marcos and international partners for supporting the department’s fight against hunger and malnutrition. ADB Country Director Andrew Jeffries commended the Philippine government’s commitment to social protection and food security, calling the Refuel Project “a decisive step toward the President’s vision of a zero-hunger Philippines.”