BUSINESS
Advocates Philippines
ADB Greenlights 400 Million USD Loan To Tackle Hunger And Malnutrition In The Philippines
Photo credit: ADB
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million loan to help the Philippines confront one of its most persistent challenges: hunger and poor nutrition, made worse by climate change and frequent natural disasters.
The initiative, called the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers Project, will expand the government’s flagship social assistance program, Walang Gutom 2027 (Zero Hunger), by delivering monthly electronic food vouchers to 750,000 food-insecure households nationwide.
“With nearly half of the Philippine population unable to afford a healthy diet, food vouchers are essential to help poor and vulnerable households meet their nutritional needs,” said ADB Deputy Director General for Southeast Asia and Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran. “This project reflects ADB’s commitment to improving food security and nutrition so that all Filipinos can thrive.”
The scale of the problem is daunting. Poverty and food insecurity remain deeply linked, with nearly 30% of children under five stunted due to long-term nutritional deficiencies. This not only undermines health and learning, but also costs the economy an estimated $8.5 billion each year in lost productivity.
The Philippines’ geographical location adds another layer of risk. Sitting in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Western Pacific typhoon belt, the country faces frequent earthquakes, cyclones, floods, and landslides—hazards that are expected to worsen with climate change.
To address both immediate and long-term needs, the program goes beyond distributing food vouchers. Beneficiaries will also join monthly educational sessions to promote better nutrition practices and close knowledge gaps, reducing malnutrition while also helping lift households out of poverty.
The project will further strengthen the government’s ability to respond quickly to crises, making its social protection systems more “shock-responsive”—able to deliver timely assistance during disasters and economic downturns.
In addition to ADB’s $400 million loan, the Agence Française de Développement will provide 200 million euros ($220 million), and the OPEC Fund for International Development will contribute $150 million.
ADB’s support builds on over 15 years of assistance to the Philippines’ Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), as well as lessons from similar initiatives abroad, including Mongolia’s Food Stamp Program. A pilot test of the electronic vouchers, conducted from December 2023 to July 2024 in partnership with the World Food Programme, provided valuable insights that shaped the final design of the project.
For ADB, this is more than just a financing initiative—it’s an investment in healthier futures, stronger resilience, and a path toward ensuring that no Filipino family goes hungry.
The initiative, called the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers Project, will expand the government’s flagship social assistance program, Walang Gutom 2027 (Zero Hunger), by delivering monthly electronic food vouchers to 750,000 food-insecure households nationwide.
“With nearly half of the Philippine population unable to afford a healthy diet, food vouchers are essential to help poor and vulnerable households meet their nutritional needs,” said ADB Deputy Director General for Southeast Asia and Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran. “This project reflects ADB’s commitment to improving food security and nutrition so that all Filipinos can thrive.”
The scale of the problem is daunting. Poverty and food insecurity remain deeply linked, with nearly 30% of children under five stunted due to long-term nutritional deficiencies. This not only undermines health and learning, but also costs the economy an estimated $8.5 billion each year in lost productivity.
The Philippines’ geographical location adds another layer of risk. Sitting in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Western Pacific typhoon belt, the country faces frequent earthquakes, cyclones, floods, and landslides—hazards that are expected to worsen with climate change.
To address both immediate and long-term needs, the program goes beyond distributing food vouchers. Beneficiaries will also join monthly educational sessions to promote better nutrition practices and close knowledge gaps, reducing malnutrition while also helping lift households out of poverty.
The project will further strengthen the government’s ability to respond quickly to crises, making its social protection systems more “shock-responsive”—able to deliver timely assistance during disasters and economic downturns.
In addition to ADB’s $400 million loan, the Agence Française de Développement will provide 200 million euros ($220 million), and the OPEC Fund for International Development will contribute $150 million.
ADB’s support builds on over 15 years of assistance to the Philippines’ Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), as well as lessons from similar initiatives abroad, including Mongolia’s Food Stamp Program. A pilot test of the electronic vouchers, conducted from December 2023 to July 2024 in partnership with the World Food Programme, provided valuable insights that shaped the final design of the project.
For ADB, this is more than just a financing initiative—it’s an investment in healthier futures, stronger resilience, and a path toward ensuring that no Filipino family goes hungry.
Aug 13, 2025
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