MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will launch the its “Walang Gutom Kitchen” (No Hunger Kitchen) by the end of 2024 with a massive participation of leading private corporations.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday presented the program details to executives of Century Pacific Food Inc. (CPFI), Coca‑Cola Foundation Philippines (CCFP), Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), Nestlé Philippines, Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (RestoPH), Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities (RMHC) and Unilever Philippines.
“This is a small step but when people start realizing na may ganyan (we have that), private individuals will come in and follow,” Gatchalian said. “A lot of people have money to help but they just don’t know how.”
Gatchalian gave a briefing on how private companies can contribute to the objectives of the Walang Gutom “soup kitchen,” assisted by Social Technology Bureau director and team leader of Pag-abot Program Marilyn Moral.
He discussed matters that revolved about the target beneficiaries, who are composed of families and individuals in street situations under Pag-abot Program and eligible beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).
Scheduled for pilot testing in December, the kitchen will be rolled out in a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators hub in Pasay which has been turned over to the DSWD.
The kitchen aims to provide multifaceted biophysical services that addresses involuntary hunger and varied needs of homeless individuals and families.
Present in the meeting were DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Eduardo Punay and Assistant Secretary Baldr Bringas; CCFP president Cecile Alcantara; CPFI director Kamille Corpuz and sales manager Gina Palad; JGF president Gisela Tiongson and director L.A. Cruzat; RMHC executive director Marie Angeles and managing director Margot Torres; Nestlé Philippines head of corporate affairs Jose Uy III; PHOA operations manager Minoll Alano and administrative coordinator J Balinquit; RestoPH president Eric Teng and officers Eduardo Firmalo and Oye Pores; and Unilever Philippines lead for external affairs Lavin Gonzaga, business unit representatives Anelle Villanueva and Hanna Laurel, and lead for corporate affairs Joseph Fabul. (PNA)