MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday launched the “Walang Gutom Kitchen” to address involuntary hunger and food wastage in the country. 

In his keynote address, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian described the project as an open kitchen designed to serve families and individuals in street situations under the agency’s Pag-Abot program, as well as those experiencing hunger. 

The initiative also operates under a public-private partnership by sourcing food donations from private companies and individuals.  

The event was held at the Nasdake Building, FB Harrison in Pasay City.  

The Walang Gutom Kitchen operates within a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators hub, repurposed into a DSWD Pag-Abot center. 

Gatchalian said it reflects the spirit of Christmas by extending aid to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors.  

Philippine households waste nearly 3 million tonnes of food annually, a sharp drop from 2021 levels, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) 2024 Food Waste Index Report. 

Household food waste in the Philippines totaled 2.95 million tonnes, or 26 kilograms per person, in 2024—a 68.35 percent decrease from the 9.33 million tonnes reported in 2021. 

Globally, households account for 60 percent of food waste (631 million tonnes), followed by food service at 28 percent (290 million tonnes) and retail at 12 percent (131 million tonnes). The Philippine per-capita food waste is also much lower than the Southeast Asian average of 70 kilograms.

More Filipino families went hungry in the third quarter of 2024, according to a Social Weather Stations survey conducted from September 14 to 23. It found that 22.9 percent of families experienced hunger at least once in the past three months, a sharp rise from 17.6 percent in June 2024. This is the highest level since September 2020’s 30.7 percent during the COVID-19 lockdowns.  

Hunger was most severe in Mindanao, affecting 30.7 percent of families, followed by 26 percent in the Visayas. In Metro Manila, 21.7 percent of families experienced hunger, while the rate in Luzon was 18.1 percent.

First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos attended the launch, joining Gatchalian, Undersecretary for Operations Pinky Romualdez, and Undersecretary for Innovations Eduardo Punay in distributing meals to beneficiaries.  

Other officials present included Assistant Secretaries Baldr Bringas and Paul Ledesma, as well as Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano. Representatives from private partners such as Ronald McDonald’s House Charities, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Nestle Philippines, Century Pacific Food, Monde Nissin, Unilever, and the Philippine Hotel Owners Association also participated in the event.