The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to kick off the Innovations Caravan on Thursday (January 29) to bring the Department’s social protection programs closer to Filipinos and local government units (LGUs).
The caravan, which will run for six months across 12 regions, aims to introduce and promote the DSWD’s innovative programs and encourage LGUs to adopt or replicate these initiatives in their respective localities.
“Walang dapat maiwan sa pag-unlad, yan ang bilin ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Kaya iikot po tayo sa iba’t ibang rehiyon para madala natin ang mga programa ng DSWD sa mga kababayan natin, lalo na iyong mga wala o kakaunti lamang ang access sa mga impormasyon tungkol sa mga proyekto ng ating gobyerno,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said on Wednesday (January 28).
The caravan will kick off in the National Capital Region (NCR) at the Aguilar Sports Complex in Las Piñas City.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Undersecretary Edu Punay of the Innovations and Program Development Group (IPDG) will lead the activity.
The DSWD’s IPDG will also hold caravans in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley), MIMAROPA, 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao), 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN), CARAGA, and the Negros Island Region (NIR).
One of the highlights of the regional Innovations Caravan is the second cook-off competition dubbed as “Walang Gutom Kusinero: Cook-Off Challenge.” The first cook-off challenge was launched in February 2025 at the Dapa Gymnasium in Dapa, Surigao del Norte.
The cooking challenge is designed to highlight the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), a flagship program of the national government implemented by the DSWD to address hunger and malnutrition experienced by Filipinos from low-income households through the provision of monthly food credits amounting to Php3,000 to household beneficiaries.
One of the goals of the WGP is to promote nutrition and behavioral change among beneficiaries by helping them understand the value of buying and eating nutritious food through attendance to nutrition education sessions.
“Isa po sa kondisyon ng WGP ay ang pag-attend ng nutrition education sessions. Dito, tinuturuan sila kung paano magluto at maghanda ng pagkain na masustansya, masarap, at affordable para sa kanilang pamilya. Makikita natin sa cook-off challenge kung ano ang mga natutunan nila sa nutrition education sessions,” the spokesperson said.
According to the DSWD official, the cook-off challenge is exclusive to WGP beneficiaries. The competition will have three stages: provincial, regional, and national level.
The DSWD tapped culinary expert and social media influencer Chef Marky Bartolome as the official “coachsinero” and Chef Rolando “Lau” Laudico as the regional “coachsinero” of the competition.
The national finals of the Walang Gutom Cook-off will be held sometime in July in line with the celebration of the National Nutrition Month. (YADP)
