he visited as part of his itinerary in Western Mindanao.
On Monday, June 29, Presiden Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led the opening of the new Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) in Zamboanga and the handover of the Socio-Civic Project Funds (SCPF) under the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Program.
In the former, he was joined by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian in serving free hot and nutritious meals to beneficiaries of the WGK.
During the launch, the Chief Executive and the DSWD chief shared a meal and a conversation with the kitchen beneficiaries.
The WGK in Zamboanga City is the DSWD’s third soup kitchen which offers free breakfast and lunch to families and individuals in street situations (FISS), as well as to anyone experiencing involuntary hunger. The first two branches are in Pasay and Cebu.
Located at the FGL. Warehouse along Maria Clara Lorenzo Lobregat Highway, the WGK serves breakfast as early as 6:00 am and lunch starting at 11:00 am daily, until the last available meal.
It can serve 150 to 200 people per meal service (breakfast and lunch) per day, according to the social welfare department.
The facility also has a registration area, waiting area, holding area, mess hall, serving counter, storage rooms, kitchen area, Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, reading corner, and Pag-abot Program Desk, and comfort rooms.
In Mindanao, involuntary hunger stood at 21.7 percent of families in March 2026, a decline from 26.7 percent in November 2025.
The Marcos administration noted that its efforts are being intensified to address hunger, as recent data shows increasing involuntary hunger in other parts of the Philippines.
SCPF HANDOVER
Meanwhile, President Marcos turned over PHP371.8 million to Zamboanga Peninsula under the Socio-Civic Project Funds (SCPF)-Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Program.
Through this program, the national government releases funds directly to the local government units (LGUs) to accelerate the implementation of government projects and ensure the timely and efficient delivery of local assistance.
Under the SCPF-Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program, each barangay receives PHP200,000, with the PHP100,000 intended for education, while the other PHP100,000 is allocated for locally identified projects.
The funds were received by the Provincial Governments of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and the City Government of Zamboanga.
“Palagay ko maraming-marami tayong matutulungan, ‘yung mga naghihirap,” Marcos said during the event at the Western Mindanao State University gym.
“Bibigyan natin, matutulungan natin ‘yung mga may problema, at kahit papaano maramdaman ang serbisyo na ipinadala ng pamahalaan.”
The administration is focusing on the Zamboanga Peninsula due to the region’s persistent poverty, exacerbated by its vulnerability to disasters.
The region has recorded high poverty and subsistence incidence, as well as an elevated level of college attrition rate in Academic Year 2024–2025.
Additionally, it has high disaster and climate vulnerability, with frequent earthquakes, floods, and landslides, and climate variability that repeatedly disrupts livelihoods and damages infrastructure.
Meanwhile, in his speech, the President promised to address the needs of local communities and encouraged them to share their concerns with the national government.
Marcos stressed it is not just about the national government issuing directives to local governments, but also hearing the concerns of the LGUs. He also encouraged local communities to tell the national government of their needs and concerns.
“Kapag may kailangan kayo, kapag may nakikita kayong problema, sabihin ninyo sa amin, sabihin ninyo sa mga local government officials, sabihin ninyo sa mga barangay officials, sabihin ninyo sa bawat ahensya ng national government kung kaya naming gawin,” President Marcos said.
He added, “Basta’t sinabi ninyo na kailangan ninyo ito at kaya namin ibigay, gagawin po natin. Asahan ninyo na ang inyong pamahalaan ay nandito, nakikinig sa inyo.”
In addition, he also called for closer collaboration and noted that aside from the SCDF, there is also the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), which is also being extended to local governments, with bigger budget for those programs should the national government see good results.
“Ang sinasabi ko, pag magiging maganda ang takbo ng programang ito at yung programa doon sa LGSF, kung maganda ‘yan, titiyakin ko sa budget ng 2027, kalakip pa natin yung ibibigay natin,” said President Marcos.
As of last Friday, June 25, the SCPF-Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program has released PHP200,000 checks to every barangay, totaling PHP3.55 billion, benefitting over 17,769 barangays nationwide.
