In a recent meeting with partner organizations, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian expressed his desire to enhance private sector participation in the ‘Walang Gutom’ Kitchen project. The initiative, aimed at combating hunger, has been operational since its launch in Pasay City and currently relies on contributions from various fast food chains and other establishments.
Gatchalian is particularly keen on expanding the involvement of hotels, hoping to transform the kitchen into a comprehensive food bank. During discussions at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, he emphasized the importance of stabilizing the food supply to ensure the project’s sustainability. He specifically reached out to the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), seeking their support in donating surplus food.
PHOA Executive Director Benito Bengzon Jr. confirmed that they have been actively promoting the DSWD’s initiative among their members, encouraging them to contribute to the ‘Walang Gutom’ Kitchen. PHOA President Arthur Lopez highlighted that existing Philippine food banking laws would protect hotels from potential liabilities when donating food, further facilitated by a liability waiver provided by the DSWD.
Gatchalian assured that the DSWD would handle the logistics of food pickup, storage, and waste management, thereby easing the burden on participating hotels. The ‘Walang Gutom’ Kitchen currently enjoys support from a diverse group of partners and donors, including Unilever, PHOA, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Jollibee Group Foundation, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Nestle, Century Pacific, Monde Nissin Foundation, Discovery Primea Hotel, Bossing Marketing, Barkadang Walang Pangalan, Vanessa Jane Lusaria, and Jaime Ching.
The meeting was also attended by DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Eduardo Punay and Special Assistant to the Secretary for Innovations Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo, underscoring the department’s commitment to innovative solutions for social welfare.