Former Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary and 2025 senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos Jr. praised the Marcos administration’s newly launched anti-hunger initiative, the “Walang Gutom Kitchen,” calling it a significant step toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of eradicating hunger by 2030.
The program, unveiled oby Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and First Lady Liza Marcos, aims to combat food insecurity and food wastage across the country.
The launch event was held at the Nasdake Building in Pasay City, a facility that once housed a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub and has now been repurposed into a DSWD Pag-Abot center for vulnerable individuals and families.
The Walang Gutom Kitchen will operate as an open kitchen, providing meals to families and individuals in “street situations” under the DSWD’s Pag-Abot program, as well as those suffering from involuntary hunger.
Food for the initiative will be sourced through public-private partnerships, with private food industry players and citizens encouraged to donate surplus goods and essential food supplies.
Abalos commended the program, noting that it not only addresses hunger but also offers a concrete solution to food wastage in the country.
“This program will boost our nation’s ability to confront hunger while addressing food wastage,” Abalos said.
“This program demonstrates what can be achieved when the government, private sector, and civil society come together for a common goal,” Abalos said.
Citing the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)’s 2024 Food Waste Index Report, Abalos said the Philippine households generated 2.95 million tonnes of food waste annually, equivalent to 26 kilograms per person.
This figure represents a 68.35% decrease from the 9.33 million tonnes recorded in 2021, according to the report.
The Food Waste Index evaluates food waste, including inedible parts, across households, food service, and retail sectors.
Abalos emphasized that partnerships between the government and private stakeholders are crucial in delivering sustainable solutions to longstanding societal challenges.
Running for senator in 2025, Abalos vowed to address the causes of hunger such as inflation, combined with the rising cost of essential goods, has driven food insecurity in both urban and rural areas.
As the former mayor of Mandaluyong City, Abalos led pioneering initiatives that were recognized by the United Nations. He earned recognition from the United Nations for Project TEACH, an initiative he spearheaded to provide education and healthcare services to children with special needs. (ADV)
