A total of 1,356 residents in Surigao del Norte received food assistance through the “Walang Gutom” (Zero Hunger) program on Jan. 9 to 13, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Caraga (DSWD-13) reported Tuesday.
The program reached beneficiaries in the mainland towns of Mainit, Alegria, Bacuag, Placer, Claver, Gigaquit, Tagana-an, Sison, Malimono, and San Francisco, as well as Surigao City.
On Siargao Island, food packages were distributed in Del Carmen, San Benito, Pilar, General Luna, Socorro and Dapa.
Each beneficiary received PHP3,000 worth of food packages containing “Go, Grow, and Glow” items for balanced nutrition.
“This initiative ensures families have access to nutritious meals for a healthier future,” the DSWD-13 said in a news release.
The program was launched in the Caraga Region by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Siargao Island on Sept. 29, 2023.
In December 2024, the DSWD-13 validated an additional 1,500 beneficiaries in Surigao del Norte, particularly those not included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. (PNA)