Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday (December 16) led the launching of “Walang Gutom Kitchen,” the agency’s latest innovative program against involuntary hunger and food wastage, at the Nasdake Building, FB Harrison in Pasay City.
The DSWD chief, in his keynote address, said the project shall serve as the agency’s open kitchen for reached-out families and individuals in street situations under its Pag-Abot program, as well as those experiencing involuntary hunger.
The project will also be serving as a public-private partnership against food wastage as the food bank would be sourced from donations from private partners in the food industry. Private citizens are also welcome to donate goods.
Secretary Gatchalian said the Walang Gutom Kitchen, which is housed in a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub later repurposed as a DSWD Pag-abot center, was unveiled just in time to bring in the spirit of Christmas, particularly to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable population.
First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos graced the event as she joined the DSWD Chief, Undersecretary for Operations Group Pinky Romualdez, and Undersecretary for Innovations Group Eduardo Punay in distributing hot meals to the kitchen’s beneficiaries.
Other officials present in the event were Asst. Secretary for Innovations Baldr Bringas, Asst. Secretary for Regional Operations under the Operations Group Paul Ledesma, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano.
The private partners of the Walang Gutom Kitchen who witnessed the event were representatives from Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities, Jollibee Food Corporation, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., Nestle Philippines Inc., Century Pacific Food Inc., Monde Nissin Corporation, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSB), Unilever, Philippine Hotel Owners Association, among others.
New Walang Gutom Kitchen will help minimize food wastage – DSWD chief
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday (December 16) said the agency’s newest convergence initiative, the Walang Gutom Kitchen, will help minimize food wastage in the country.
“This Walang Gutom Kitchen is a food bank kung saan ang private sector at ang public sector ay magsasanib pwersa para mabawasan ang wastage ng pagkain at matugunan ang problema ng kagutuman sa Metro Manila at later on, when we expand this type of food banks, nationwide,” the DSWD chief told reporters on the sidelines of the project’s launch at the Nasdake Building, FB Harrison in Pasay City.
Secretary Gatchalian underscored that the Walang Gutom Kitchen will adhere to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9803 or the Food Donation Act of 2009 in creating measures to encourage the donation of wholesome food for charitable purposes.
“Ang plano natin is to expand it later on and open more of its branches so that yung mga kababayan natin na nasa pribadong sektor na may excess na pagkain, pwede nilang maibaba rito sa Walang Gutom Kitchen para yung mga nagugutom nating mga kababayan, pwedeng-pwedeng pumunta rito anytime para makakuha ng libreng pagkain,” Secretary Gatchalian explained to reporters who covered the event.
The Walang Gutom Kitchen, which is located at the former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub later repurposed by the DSWD, also features the convergence of the three innovative programs of the agency. These are the Pag-Abot Program, Walang Gutom Program, and the Tara Basa! Tutoring Program.
Clients who were reached out through the Pag-Abot Program or those who are walk-ins in the hub will be provided with food and other basic necessities upon the assessment of social workers.
The Walang Gutom Kitchen will also facilitate individualized case management of clients including assessment, intervention, planning and progress tracking of homeless individuals for their development.
Through the establishment of Tara, Basa! reading corners, clients will be able to access learning and developmental interventions such as parenting education and character-building activities that will be held in the multipurpose facility.
“Sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin na gustong tumulong sa ating mga kababayan na nagugutom…we will take on any type of food donation and drinks donation, whether gusto mo na own personal capacity or nagkataon na may negosyo ka at may sumobrang pagkain, basta galing sa pribadong sektor, alinsunod na rin sa batas, tatanggapin namin iyan para ipakain at ipamahagi araw-araw sa mga nagugutom nating mga kababayan,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
The launching of the Walang Gutom Kitchen was attended by First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos, who joined Secretary Gatchalian and private sector partners in distributing hot meals to the kitchen’s beneficiaries.
Other officials who attended the Walang Gutom Kitchen launch were Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, Undersecretary for Operations Group Pinky Romualdez, Undersecretary for Innovations Group Eduardo Punay, Asst. Secretary for Innovations Group Baldr Bringas, and Asst. Secretary for Regional Operations Paul Ledesma.
