Strengthening the ties between government-led hunger-alleviation initiatives and private sector efforts is one of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) strategic approaches to help address hunger and malnutrition in the country, a senior agency official said on Thursday (April 3).
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao told Malacanang reporters in a press briefing led by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) that the DSWD continues to ramp up anti-hunger efforts amid recent survey results showing an increase in hunger incidence among Filipino families.
“Alinsunod po sa vision ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na dapat wala pong Pilipino na magugutom, tinitiyak ng DSWD na nagha-harmonize, naga-align ang iba’t-ibang programa at serbisyo ng national government agencies (NGAs) and those with the private sector,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao told the press briefing.
A Social Weather Station (SWS) survey conducted last March 15-20 reported that 27.2 percent of Filipino families nationwide experienced involuntary hunger, at least once in the past three months.
In line with the intensified efforts to fight hunger, the DSWD spokesperson said the agency is gearing up to expand the reach of its existing hunger-alleviation programs such as the Walang Gutom Program and the Walang Gutom Kitchen.
“The DSWD is fully-committed to ensuring na ma-iprovide natin ‘yung kaukulang kinakailangan sa pagkain noong ating pong mga kababayan na naapektuhan and that is also one of the reasons why we are scaling up the implementation of not only Walang Gutom Program, but also yung ibang programa like Walang Gutom Kitchen,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
The Walang Gutom Kitchen is the latest innovation of the DSWD aimed at addressing involuntary hunger and reducing food wastage by turning donated surplus food from hotels, restaurants, and organizations into hot meals for individuals experiencing hunger.
The food bank, which showcases a massive private-public sector collaboration, continues its operation in Pasay City to serve free hot meals to more families, individuals, and children in street situations.
The DSWD earlier announced plans to bring the Walang Gutom Kitchen to other areas with high incidence of hunger and record of families in street situations (FISS).
“This Walang Gutom Kitchen is a food bank kung saan ang private sector at ang public sector ay magsasanib pwersa para mabawasan ang wastage ng pagkain at matugunan ang problema ng kagutuman sa Metro Manila at later on, when we expand this type of food banks, nationwide,” Secretary Gatchalian said during the launching of Walang Gutom Kitchen on December 16.
Meanwhile, the Walang Gutom Program, which serves as the government’s flagship anti-hunger program is currently benefitting 300,000 food-poor households across the country.
By 2027, the agency targets to assist 750,000 food-poor families, anchored on President Marcos’ vision to achieve a hunger-free Philippines before he steps out of office.
Launched in 2023 and institutionalized by Executive Order No. 44, the Walang Gutom Program provides eligible families with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards loaded with Php3,000 in monthly food credits. These can be used to purchase nutritious food items from accredited retailers, ensuring that vulnerable households have access to adequate and healthy meals. (LSJ)