The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $400 million loan to help the Philippines expand its Walang Gutom (Zero Hunger) Food Stamp Program, targeting 750,000 food-insecure households with monthly electronic vouchers to fight hunger and malnutrition, the organization announced.
The project comes as nearly half the Philippine population can’t afford a healthy diet and almost 30% of children under five are stunted from poor nutrition. The loan is part of a larger $770 million financing package including support from France’s development agency and the OPEC Fund.
The Philippines faces mounting food security challenges made worse by climate disasters and economic pressures. Childhood malnutrition costs the economy $8.5 billion annually while hurting learning, health, and future productivity. The country sits in the Pacific Ring of Fire and typhoon belt, making it prone to earthquakes, tropical cyclones, flooding, and landslides that disrupt food systems and push vulnerable families deeper into hunger.
“With nearly half the Philippine population unable to afford a healthy and nutritious diet, food vouchers are essential to help poor and vulnerable households meet their nutritional needs,” said ADB’s Pavit Ramachandran.
Beyond giving electronic vouchers, beneficiaries will attend monthly sessions promoting better nutrition habits and filling knowledge gaps. The project also aims to strengthen government systems for shock-responsive social protection during disasters and economic crises.
ADB helped pilot electronic vouchers in five locations from December 2023 to July 2024 with the World Food Programme. Results from a rigorous impact evaluation shaped the project design and showed promise for scaling up nationwide. France’s development agency is putting in €200 million while the OPEC Fund adds $150 million to support the initiative.
The project builds on ADB’s 15-year support for the Philippines’ Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and lessons from Mongolia’s Food Stamp Program, showing how targeted social protection can reduce malnutrition and poverty.
