MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Saturday called for food donations from restaurants and fast food restaurants, as well as from individuals who are willing to render volunteer service, for the newly opened “Walang Gutom” (Zero Hunger) Kitchen.
“Gusto kong ipabatid sa inyo na humahanap kami ng food donations pati na rin service donations. Hinihikayat namin ang mga organisasyon at indibidwal na gustong tumulong laban sa kagutuman na magtungo lamang sa Walang Gutom Kitchen sa Nasdake Building sa Pasay City para maging volunteer server natin (I want to announce that we are looking for food donations, as well as service donations. We are encouraging organizations and individuals who want to help fight hunger to go to the Walang Gutom Kitchen at Nasdake Building in Pasay City to be volunteer server) for the day,” Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in a video message posted on the DSWD Facebook page.
Launched on December 16, the Walang Gutom Kitchen is the DSWD’s latest innovative program that offers holistic solutions to homelessness and hunger.
Its primary clientele are children, individuals, families in street situations and other Filipinos experiencing involuntary hunger.
Apart from addressing involuntary hunger, Gatchalian said the kitchen will also prevent food wastage.
“Una sa lahat, gusto natin sugpuin ang kagutuman. Pero saan natin kukunin ang mga pagkain? Dahil food bank din ang soup kitchen na ito, dito binabagsak ng mga hotel, restaurant, at mga fast food ang mga sobra nilang bentahin at mga pagkain na hindi nila nakonsumo sa araw na iyon (Firstly, we want to eradicate hunger. But where will we get the food? Because the soup kitchen is also a food bank, this is where hotels, restaurants, and fast foods bring their excess and unconsumed food during the day),” Gatchalian said.
“Kaysa itapon lamang at masayang, ngayon ay mayroon na silang pwedeng paglagyan at i-donate na lugar kung saan naman ang DSWD ay ipamamahagi ito at ise-serve ito sa mga kababayan natin na nakararanas ng kagutuman, mga pamilya na nakatira sa lansangan, mga indibidwal at kabataan na nakararanas ng pansamantalang kagutuman (Instead of throwing them away as waste, they now have a place where they can donate it, and where the DSWD, for its part, will distribute and serve it to our countrymen who are experiencing hunger, families living in the streets, and individuals and the youth who are experiencing involuntary hunger).
Gatchalian said the DSWD will open more soup kitchens nationwide to realize President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a hunger-free Philippines.
“Makalipas ang ilang buwan, bubuksan pa natin ang mas marami pang Walang Gutom Kitchen sa buong bansa para masiguro natin na ang pangarap ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ay maging reyalidad na: Ito ay ang mawakasan ang kagutuman (in a few months, we will open more Walang Gutom Kitchens nationwide to ensure that the aspiration of President Marcos will be realized: To end hunger),” he said.
Nestlé Philippines has donated 300 pieces of 1 kg pack of powdered chocolate while Bossing Nation gave five boxes of dishwashing liquid.
The Secretary”s video message can be viewed here: youtube: https://youtu.be/bE6-_ftSzsI
fb: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19hpyQUid6/. (PR)