President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the launch of the country’s second Walang Gutom Kitchen in Cebu City, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring that no Filipino goes hungry.

Joined by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Marcos toured the facility, observed its operations, joined the distribution of meals, and interacted with beneficiaries and local officials.

The Cebu City Walang Gutom Kitchen is the second facility of its kind in the country, following the opening of the first kitchen in Pasay City in December 2024.

Operated by the DSWD, the facility serves as a community-based food bank that provides free, nutritious breakfast and lunch daily to identified beneficiaries and walk-in clients experiencing involuntary hunger. Breakfast service begins at 6 a.m., while lunch is served starting at 11 a.m.

The Walang Gutom Kitchen is part of the government’s broader Walang Gutom Program (WGP), the national government’s flagship anti-hunger initiative launched in 2023 and institutionalized through Executive Order 44 in 2024.

The program was established pursuant to the President’s directive to address food insecurity and reduce involuntary hunger among Filipino families.

The DSWD said the facility functions as a comprehensive community service hub that caters to homeless individuals and other vulnerable sectors by providing immediate access to nutritious meals.

A measure is now pending at the House of Representatives seeking to institutionalize the Walang Gutom Program as a permanent government program aimed at reducing hunger, supporting low-income households, and boosting local agricultural production. (PNA)