DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Thursday (July 20) that the pilot run of the recently-launched Food Stamp Program will serve as a preparation for the full implementation of the government’s anti-hunger program nationwide.

“We don’t want to be embarking on a scaled-up program without studying what works and what does not work,” Secretary Gatchalian said in his interview with journalist Katrina Domingo of ANC.

Secretary Gatchalian emphasized that the pilot test, which will extensively run for six months, will provide an opportunity for the DSWD to further enhance the program’s systems and mechanisms, and to help in improving its full implementation next year.