THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is aiming to build 12 Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) feeding stations nationwide by 2027.
The program was created to expand access to free nutritious meals in areas with high incidence of involuntary hunger.
The DSWD said the goal is to open three additional kitchens by the second half of 2026 in the National Capital Region (NCR), Eastern Visayas and the Caraga Region.
It added that the currently operating Walang Gutom Kitchens are located in Pasay City, Cebu City and Zamboanga City, benefiting indigents from across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Walang Gutom Kitchen Officer-in-Charge Ramil Mapoy said the expansion is part of the agency's efforts to bring the program closer to more communities.
"We currently have kitchens in Pasay City for Luzon, Cebu City for the Visayas, and Zamboanga City for Mindanao, and by the second semester we aim to add another one in NCR, another in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), and another in the Caraga Region," Mapoy said.
Mapoy said the kitchens are open to everyone experiencing involuntary hunger.
"We are open to all, especially our fellow Filipinos who are living or staying on the streets, and we are also open to the general public," he said.
Unlike traditional soup kitchens, Mapoy said the Walang Gutom Kitchens serve balanced meals based on the Pinggang Pinoy nutrition guide, ensuring that each plate contains rice, vegetables and protein through two viands, with chicken and fish commonly served in the Pasay facility.
Since its launch in December 2024, the Pasay City kitchen has served 306,428 meals, while the Cebu City and Zamboanga City kitchens served 6,666 and 3,000, respectively.
An initiative of Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the Walang Gutom Kitchen program encourages volunteerism and donations like surplus food from hotels and restaurants, noting such kind acts will reduce food wastage while providing nutritious meals to needy people.
