The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling for stronger private sector partnerships and greater public participation as it targets to expand the Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) to more cities and regions in 2026.
During DZMM’s Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan! program aired on Saturday (December 20), WGK Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Atty. Dwight Cruz highlighted the milestone visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, in time for the facility’s anniversary celebration.
“Mapalad kami na binisita kami ng ating Pangulo, kasama si Secretary Rex Gatchalian at ang Mayor ng Pasay, to celebrate the one-year anniversary ng Walang Gutom Kitchen. At the same time was the inauguration of the Pag-abot Processing Center sa second floor ng Nasdake Building,” Atty. Cruz said.
The WGK is the first government-run soup kitchen in the country, established by the DSWD to address involuntary hunger, particularly among individuals and families in street situation.
Currently, the WGK serves around 700 individuals daily, with approximately 300 to 350 meals provided during breakfast and another 300 to 350 during lunch.
Atty. Cruz emphasized that the program is open to all who are hungry.
“Sa Walang Gutom Kitchen, hindi kami nangdi-discriminate. Although ang target natin ay yung mga homeless at yung mga nasa streets natin na children and families, but then again, we do not discriminate. Basta gutom ka, gusto mong kumain, at mayroon pa kaming pagkain na maseserve sa inyo ay open siya,” Atty. Cruz explained to the DZMM anchors.
The WGK administrative chief also encouraged food donations and partnerships, noting that surplus food from hotels, restaurants, and other establishments can significantly help sustain the kitchen’s daily operations.
“Marami tayong surplus food lalo na sa hotels and restaurants. Kung mayroon kayong excess food, why don’t you just donate it to Walang Gutom Kitchen para maserve namin sa ating mga kababayan na talagang nagugutom,” Atty. Cruz pointed out.
The DSWD has existing partnerships with the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), Scholars of Sustenance (SOS), and major fast-food chains such as McDonald’s Philippines and Jollibee, which regularly donate food to the program.
Looking ahead, Atty. Cruz emphasized that the DSWD is carefully preparing for the program’s expansion, in line with Secretary Gatchalian’s guidance to strengthen the model before scaling up and upon the directive of the President.
“Kasama na yan sa pinagpaplanuhan na maexpand yung Walang Gutom Kitchen, although sabi nga ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian, pag-igihin muna natin, kasi ito yung first soup kitchen. Once na ready na tayo, then we will expand,” Atty. Cruz said.
The long-term plan includes establishing WGK hubs in other cities in the National Capital Region and Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 4A (CALABARZON), and 7 (Central Visayas).
“Unti-unti lang, hindi natin binibigla, pero nakakasa na siya. Mayroon na tayong identified processing center hubs,” Atty. Cruz said.
Through the WGK, the DSWD continues to advance its mission of ensuring that no Filipino goes hungry, while strengthening collaboration with local governments, private partners, and volunteers to make food security a shared responsibility.
The ‘Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan’ is aired over DZMM Teleradyo 630 every Saturday from 11 am to 12 noon, and anchored by veteran broadcaster Alvin Elchico with Jet Guevarra of the DSWD’s Public Relations Service as co-anchor. (CC)
