Manila: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it has approved a loan of 400 million U.S. dollars to help the Philippines reduce hunger, food insecurity, and poor nutrition amid escalating climate and disaster risks.
The Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers Project will support the government in expanding its new flagship social assistance initiative, the Zero Hunger Food Stamp Program, the ADB said in its press release.
The project will help finance the delivery of monthly electronic food vouchers to 750,000 food-insecure households nationwide, the bank said.
“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 Deputy Director General for Southeast Asia and concurrent Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran.
