President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took part in food service and gift distribution on Wednesday as he visited the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom Kitchen, which marked one year since it began operations.
Clad in a Christmas hat and red apron, the President personally served meals to walk-in beneficiaries before touring the newly opened Pag-abot Processing Center, a facility designed to assist children, individuals, and families living in street situations through targeted interventions and support services.
The processing center occupies a renovated structure that previously housed a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator hub. Now functioning as a temporary shelter, it can accommodate up to 200 individuals and includes family quarters, separate dormitories for men and women, and spaces dedicated to medical care, meditation, and counseling. The facility also features a child-minding center and a wellness area for staff.
According to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the Walang Gutom Kitchen is able to serve as many as 700 people daily during breakfast and lunch hours, largely through partnerships with private organizations and food establishments.
“Remember may batas tayo na ‘yung mga sobrang pagkain ng mga establisimiyento, dinadala rito. So partner natin dito mga fastfood chain, pati Philippine Hotel Owners Association at ‘yung SOS Philippines, sila yung nagdadala ng pagkain dito,” he explained.
Gatchalian added that since the Pag-abot Program was launched in 2023, nearly 15,000 individuals in Metro Manila have been documented, with about half of them returned to their home provinces.
“Kapag inuuwi natin sila sa kanilang probinsya, may kasama nang mga economic grant ‘yun. May kasama ng livelihood grant ‘yun para masigurado nating hindi na sila babalik sa Maynila,” Gatchalian stated.
He said additional Pag-abot processing centers are set to open within the month in Calabarzon and Central Luzon, with further expansion planned in other metropolitan areas such as Metro Cebu, alongside the rollout of more foodbank facilities.
The DSWD chief also urged the public to support the program by volunteering at the soup kitchen or by helping authorities locate homeless individuals through documented reports.
“May tamang pagtulong sa mga kapwa nating nakatira sa lansangan. ‘Wag nating abutan sa lansangan, picture-an natin, i-geo[tag] or i-post lang ninyo ‘yung location and I promise you, ‘yung mga social workers namin ang pupunta para ilikas mula sa lansangan ang mga pamilya na gusto niyong tulungan,” he stated.
