Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday (December 16) led the launching of “Walang Gutom Kitchen,” the agency’s latest innovative program against involuntary hunger and food wastage, at the Nasdake Building, FB Harrison in Pasay City.

The DSWD chief, in his keynote address, said the project shall serve as the agency’s open kitchen for reached-out families and individuals in street situations under its Pag-Abot program, as well as those experiencing involuntary hunger.

The project will also be serving as a public-private partnership against food wastage as the food bank would be sourced from donations from private partners in the food industry. Private citizens are also welcome to donate goods.

Secretary Gatchalian said the Walang Gutom Kitchen, which is housed in a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub later repurposed as a DSWD Pag-abot center, was unveiled just in time to bring in the spirit of Christmas, particularly to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable population.

First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos graced the event as she joined the DSWD Chief, Undersecretary for Operations Group Pinky Romualdez, and Undersecretary for Innovations Group Eduardo Punay in distributing hot meals to the kitchen’s beneficiaries.

Other officials present in the event were Asst. Secretary for Innovations Baldr Bringas, Asst. Secretary for Regional Operations under the Operations Group Paul Ledesma, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano.

The private partners of the Walang Gutom Kitchen who witnessed the event were representatives from Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities, Jollibee Food Corporation, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., Nestle Philippines Inc., Century Pacific Food Inc., Monde Nissin Corporation, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSB), Unilever,  Philippine Hotel Owners Association, among others. (LSJ)