Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian underscored on Friday (February 28) the Marcos administration’s continuing effort at investing in human capital development, including the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).
“Ang programang ito ay para mamuhunan or we invest in human capital. Namumuhunan tayo sa mga Pilipino, namumuhunan tayo sa ating mga residente dahil importanteng kapital ang ating mamamayan,” the DSWD chief said during the launch of the Walang Gutom Kusinero Cook-Off Challenge on Friday at the Dapa Gymnasium, in Dapa, Surigao Del Norte.
Secretary Gatchalian said the WGP initiated the culinary challenge to celebrate the lessons learned by beneficiaries from their nutrition education sessions, one of the components of the WGP.
“Ito ay selebrasyon ng talento ng ating mga benepisyaryo at higit sa lahat yung pagkakaunawa ninyo sa one year and a half na session tungkol sa pagkain na masustansya. Ipinamamalas ninyo po sa amin na kaya naman pala nating gawin ang makakain ng masarap, mura, at masustansyang pagkain sa ating mga tahanan,” Secretary Gatchalian told the WGP beneficiaries.
Five teams, composed of two members each, competed in the culinary challenge to show off their skills in healthy meal preparation.
The competitors were Sheena Lourdes and Jhonard Villanueva from Barangay Consolacion; Lianne Casana and Aguinaldo Espiel from Barangay Consolacion; Annabel Romasanta and Antonio Monterde Jr from Barangay 1; Daisy Lipio and Arnold Lipio from Barangay 1; and, Daisy Dotillos and Amelyn Congreso from Barangay 4.
Each of the meals prepared by the participants was judged based on two criteria: innovation and creativity, and adherence to “masustansya, masarap, at murang pagkain” advocacy.
To evaluate the healthy cuisine made by the beneficiaries, the DSWD tapped culinary expert and social media influencer Chef Marky Bartolome as the official coach-kusinero of the competition.
Other officials who served as judges were Asst. Secretary
Baldr Bringas of the Innovations and Program Development Group (IPDG) and Dapa Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Nancybelle Trazares.
The salad and bola-bolang puso made by WGP beneficiaries Daisy Lipio and Arnold Lipio garnered the highest score of 96 percent. They will represent their province in the Regional Cook-Off Challenge in the coming months.
The other DSWD officials who were present to oversee the competition were Undersecretary Edu Punay of the IPDG and DSWD Field Office Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor Dollaga.
Also present in the activity were Dapa, Surigao del Norte Mayor Elizabeth Matugas, General Luna, Surigao del Norte Mayor Sol Matugas, and General Luna Representative Francisco “Lalo” Matugas. (AKDL)