Guam expected to receive emergency SNAP despite end of local public health emergency

Guam is expected to get its next round of approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service for pandemic funding.

It comes as Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed a new executive order specifically to help the thousands of families needing food.

Guam’s Public Health Emergency, which started in March 2020, expired at midnight on Saturday, Jan. 7.

But GovGuam isn't ready to stop requesting for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program COVID-19 emergency allotment.

As many on island continue to recover and get back on their feet, the extension for snap benefits brings a sigh of relief for many locals like Joseph Finona.

"It’s good for the island because a lot of the prices are going up," he said. 

His family is among many who are still feeling the lingering effects of the pandemic with inflation raising the cost of living.

"It helps a lot, it’s good what they’re doing," Finona said. 

According to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, more than $73 million in SNAP emergency allotments were issued for Guam since the start of the island’s public health emergency. 

At the start, records show more than 7,000 homes requested the funding, and by mid-2021, that number jumped to more than 12,000 households.

Others we caught up with like Maryjoy Tupino-Angsioco and Tamuning resident, Jo, say they did not apply for the assistance but are in favor of the emergency snap extension.

"I have nothing against it," Jo said. 

"I mean if it’s a continuation, I guess it’s a good thing if it helps the people of Guam because people are still trying to survive," Tupino-Angsioco said. "The whole pandemic is not over, it’s still kind of continuing. So if it helps the people of Guam, then why not continue it."

The SNAP emergency is expected to continue until the national COVID-19 public health emergency is terminated.