The “Walang Gutom Kitchen” is the latest initiative of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) when it comes to addressing involuntary hunger among people, especially the homeless or those living on the streets. The program receives donated surplus food from various restaurants, hotels, and organizations; these are served as hot and nutritious meals.
Ever since the Walang Gutom Kitchen was launched in Pasay City last December 16, 2024, it has served more than 4,000 persons. The kitchen was open between December 26 to 31, closed temporarily on January 1 (New Year’s Day), and is currently open again to serve those who are in need of healthy, nutritious food.
“Walang Gutom Kitchen” Serves Over 4K People Last Month
According to DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao, the Walang Gutom Kitchen served a total of 4,452 persons since it was launched on December 16 up to December 24, the DSWD reported in a press release. But what exactly is the Walang Gutom Kitchen? Who are its beneficiaries and how does it operate?
What is Walang Gutom Kitchen?
In his keynote address at the launching of Walang Gutom Kitchen, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian described it s the latest initiative of the agency against involuntary hunger and food wastage. It was launched on December 16, 2024 — just in time for Christmas, opening its doors to the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors.
The kitchen is located at the Nasdake Building, along FB Harrison Street in Pasay City. Interestingly, the building used to be a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) hub; it has now been repurposed into a DSWD “Pag-Abot” center and includes the Walang Gutom Kitchen.
Based on a DSWD press release last December 16, 2024, the launching of Walang Gutom Kitchen was attended by First Lady Marie Louise Araneta Marcos. Also present were DSWD Secretary Gatchalian, Undersecretary for Innovations Group Eduardo Punay, Undersecretary for Operations Group Pinky Romualdez, Assistant Secretary for Innovations Baldr Bringas, Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations (under the Operations Group) Paul Ledesma, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano.
In addition, private partners of Walang Gutom Kitchen also came and helped in distributing hot meals to beneficiaries. These included representatives from Century Pacific Food Inc., Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., Jollibee Food Corporation, Monde Nissin Corporation, Nestle Philippines Inc., Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities, Unilever, and more.
Beneficiaries of Walang Gutom Kitchen
DSWD Secretary Gatchalian stated that Walang Gutom Kitchen serves families, children, and individuals that have been reached by the agency’s Pag-Abot program, along with other people who are experiencing involuntary hunger.
Addressing Hunger, Preventing Food Wastage
Aside from addressing involuntary hunger, Walang Gutom Kitchen also helps with preventing food wastage. As DSWD Secretary Gatchalian mentioned: “Una sa lahat, gusto nating sugpuin ang kagutuman. Pero saan natin kukunin ang mga pagkain? (First of all, we want to address hunger. But where will we get the food?)”
“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 (Because this soup kitchen is also a food bank, this is where hotels, restaurants, and fast food chains drop their surplus food, the food that is not consumed for the day),” he explained.
“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 (Rather than throw away and waste food, they can donate food to a place where DSWD can distribute and serve these to people who are experiencing hunger, families living on the streets, individuals and children who are experiencing involuntary hunger),” the DSWD Chief added.
Serving Fresh, Delicious, and Healthy Food
The food at Walang Gutom Kitchen are donated by hotels, restaurants, and other establishments. “We are very grateful for the food donations from the different establishments. We would like to reiterate that the food we are offering is not discarded food or ‘pagpag’ as some people call it,” DSWD spokesperson Dumlao said.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Dumlao also expressed her gratitude to the individuals who volunteer to serve at the kitchen, stating: “We are equally thankful to the volunteers who, even on holidays, spent their time serving food to the beneficiaries of the kitchen.”
Call for Donations and Volunteers
Other than receiving donations from hotels, restaurants, and private partners in the food industry, Walang Gutom Kitchen also accepts donated goods from private citizens. Last December, DSWD Secretary Gatchalian called for donations and volunteers who would like to share their time and service, a DSWD press release stated.
“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 for the day (I would like to inform everyone that we are calling for food donations and service donations. We encourage organizations and individuals who would like to help fight against hunger to go to Walang Gutom Kitchen at Nasdake Building in Pasay City, to become our volunteer servers for the day),” the DSWD Chief stated.
If you are interested in making a food donation or becoming a volunteer, just pay a visit to Walang Gutom Kitchen in Pasay City, or get in touch with Mr. Ramil Mapoy by calling 0916-829-7202.
Future Plans for Walang Gutom Kitchen
What’s in store for Walang Gutom Kitchen? DSWD Secretary Gatchalian has shared that the DSWD will open more soup kitchens all over the country.
“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 (After a few months, we will open more Walang Gutom Kitchens around the country, so that we can fulfill the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., which is to eradicate hunger),” the DSWD Chief said.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, the Walang Gutom Kitchen is part of President Marcos’ vision to eradicate hunger among every Filipino, especially those who are in vulnerable situations. Notably, it is also related to “Walang Gutom 2027,” a food stamp program that is envisioned to address involuntary hunger and food security in the Philippines.