Following the successful implementation of the first kitchen in Pasay City.
On Monday, June 22, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the opening of another Walang Gutom Kitchen in Cebu City.
The said facility will provide daily meals for families and individuals in street situations (FISS), in line with the government’s campaign against involuntary hunger.
Functioninga both as a soup kitchen and a food bank, the WGK relies on existing partnerships with the Philippine Hotel Owners Association, fast-food chains, and other private sector partners to use unserved, quality food while preventing wastage and ensuring that balanced meals are safely inspected by in-house nutritionists.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of food security in the country, with Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro noting in a press briefing, “Dito, binigyang-diin ng Pangulo ang kahalagahan ng mas epektibong programa at mga hakbang upang matiyak na walang pamilyang Pilipino ang magugutom dahil sa kakulangan sa pagkain.”
In line with that, she noted that the President has directed Social Welfare chief Rex Gatchalian to fix and improve the administration’s food security initiatives.
During the said opening, the President and the DSWD Secretary observed the operations of the new facility and led the distribution of hot meals to the beneficiaries and joined them for their meals.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian explained, “Alam niyo ang direktiba kasi ng ating Pangulo sa DSWD, kailangan wakasan natin ang kagutuman, so may dalawa tayong Walang Gutom na na programa. Isa yung Walang Gutom Food Stamp Program at yung Walang Gutom Kitchen.”
It was also noted that the Cebu City branch will serve as a community hub that operates daily to accommodate anyone experiencing involuntary hunger without discrimination.
“Marami rin sa mga naging kliyente natin like sa Manila yung mga construction workers, and here naman yung mga porters or yung mga nagtatrabaho sa pier kasi alam naman natin na mababa lang yung kinikita nila, some of them are seasonal workers,” the DSWD chief added.
At present, the DSWD is already preparing to open another branch in Zamboanga in July, which will expand its footprint and reach more vulnerable sectors.
“Well alam niyo ang ating Pangulo, ang kanyang dream talaga is to end hunger kaya today gusto niya ma-inspect to kasi inutusan niya nga kami na hindi pwede sa Maynila lang yung aming operation. So this is a fulfillment of his instruction na magkaroon ng Cebu Visayas branch, and then we’re opening the Zamboanga branch next month, and then later on sa mga iba pang key highly urbanized cities ng ating bayan, bansa,” furthered Gatchalian.
