DSWD to hold 2nd national Walang Gutom Program cook-off challenge

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to hold the second Walang Gutom Kusinero: Cook-Off Challenge National Finals on Friday (July 17) at the Quezon City Meeting, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E) Center, where finalists from 12 different regions will compete in a cooking contest.

Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said the cook-off challenge is part of the social behavioral change component of the Department’s Walang Gutom Program (WGP), which aims to promote nutrition and healthy eating habits among its beneficiaries.

“After maglaban sa provincial at regional level, dadako na tayo sa championship ng Walang Gutom Kusinero: Cook-Off Challenge. Labindalawang rehiyon po ang magpapagalingan sa pagluluto ng masarap, masustansya, at abot-kayang putahe. ‘Yan po ang layunin ng adbokasiyang ito, turuan ang mga magulang o miyembro ng pamilya ng tamang nutrisyon,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said on Wednesday (July 15).

According to the DSWD spokesperson, attendance at the monthly Kalusugan, Kakayahan, at Kabuhayan (3K) Sessions, previously called Nutrition Education Sessions (NES) and Productivity Enhancement Sessions (PES), is one of the conditions for all WGP beneficiaries to regularly receive their monthly food credit worth Php3000.

During 3K sessions, WGP beneficiaries are empowered and equipped to prepare nutritious, delicious, and affordable meals for their families.

“Makikita po namin ang creativity at husay ng ating mga benepisyaryo dito sa cook-off challenge. Mapapakita rin nila ang mga natutunan nila sa ginagawa nating monthly 3K sessions. Para sa kaalaman po ng marami, hindi lang tayo nagbibigay ng food credits sa ating mga benepisyaryo. Tinuturuan din natin sila ng tamang nutrisyon para maging malusog ang buong pamilya, binibigyan ng access sa mga libreng training, at maging sa mga job fairs para magkaroon sila ng trabaho o pagkakakitaan,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

The DSWD spokesperson said First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, along with heads and representatives of different national government agencies and partners of the DSWD, is expected to grace the activity.

Meals prepared by the 12 finalists will be judged based on four criteria: taste and quality, convenience and replicability, nutritional balance, and cost-efficiency.

Chef Marky Bartolome, the official “Coachsinero” of the cooking challenge, and other guest judges will evaluate and score the dishes prepared by contestants.

In 2025, Kusinera Elenita Montaño and Assistant Kusinera Jovelyn Montaño from Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) took home the championship title of the first-ever Walang Gutom Kusinero Cook-Off Challenge.

The winning team got a perfect score of 100 percent for their Ginataang KangCorn PriBano, cooked with organic ingredients only, and took home Php50,000 from the DSWD and a livelihood assistance—a food cart from Playtime Cares.

The WGP is the flagship anti-hunger program of the Philippine government, which is aligned with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to combat food insecurity and reduce involuntary hunger among Filipino families. (YADP)

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