Cebu community kitchen serves over 10,700 meals

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 7’s Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) Cebu has served more than 10,700 free, warm, and nutritious meals to vulnerable individuals and families during its first month of operations while also linking clients to various government social protection services.

Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led its launch on June 22, the community kitchen has served a total of 10,796 meals as of July 22, including 7,776 lunch meals and 3,020 breakfast meals.

The beneficiaries include vulnerable individuals and families, persons experiencing homelessness, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), low-income workers, and other walk-in clients experiencing involuntary hunger.

DSWD-7 Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, in a statement, said the department introduced several client-centered innovations during the kitchen’s first month to improve service delivery.

These include priority lanes for senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women; specially prepared kiddie meals; a kiddie corner for children; and a client satisfaction survey under the agency’s HAPSAY initiative.

“We have seen that the number of beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Kitchen continues to grow. That is why we have opened opportunities for volunteers to support the initiative. Through this, we hope to showcase the true Filipino spirit of bayanihan by encouraging everyone to take part in advancing client-centered government programs,” Lucero said.

She added that the kitchen has also become a venue for family bonding, particularly on Sundays, with some families regularly visiting the facility to share meals while reducing their food expenses.

“The kitchen also became a venue for family bonding, especially on Sundays, when parents and their children share meals together,” Lucero said.

Initially operating as a lunch-only facility, the WGK expanded its services on July 11 to include breakfast, enabling more individuals to receive nutritious meals before heading to work or school.

Meals are prepared based on the Department of Health’s Pinggang Pinoy nutritional guide and are designed by DSWD nutritionist-dietitians to meet the go, grow, and glow nutritional requirements.

Beyond serving meals, the WGK also functions as a one-stop social protection hub under the DSWD’s Pag-abot Program, where clients are assessed and referred to appropriate interventions and government services.

From June 22 to July 21, a total of 79 individuals and families in street situations were profiled through the kitchen’s convergence services. These included 64 individuals in street situations and 15 families in street situations.

Of the total, 24 clients were admitted to the Pag-abot Processing Center in Liloan, Cebu, including 20 individuals and four families, where they received case management and other social interventions.

Depending on their assessment, beneficiaries may receive temporary shelter, family reunification, transportation assistance, psychosocial support, livelihood and employment referrals, and referrals to other government agencies and partner organizations.

For many beneficiaries, the program has also eased the burden of daily food expenses, allowing them to allocate their limited income to other essential needs such as medicines, transportation, rent, and their children’s education.

One of them is 62-year-old PWD Maximo Hinon of Kinasang-an, Pardo, Cebu City, who said the program has helped him save money after suffering a stroke and relying solely on his monthly pension.

“Pasalamat ko aning project ka kay nakatabang-tabang sa kawad-on, ilabi namong wala nay panginabuhian, nakatabang gyud siya,” Hinon said.

“Maayo kaayo sila moserbisyo, limpyo sad kaayo, nindot pagka-arrange, hapsay, way samok or bisan unsa pa diha, diretso ra ug walay kuskus balungos,” he added.

The WGK Cebu is open daily, including weekends and holidays, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Breakfast starts at 6 a.m., while lunch is served beginning at 11 a.m. Meals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with at least 250 meals prepared for each meal service or until supplies last.

Located at Pier 4, OKK Square Unit along Arellano Boulevard corner General Maxilom Extension in Cebu City, the facility continues to serve as both a community kitchen and a gateway to DSWD social protection services for individuals and families experiencing involuntary hunger. *(CEBU NEWS)