Hunger is no game: volunteers sought

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling for community support for its newly launched “Walang Gutom” kitchen in Pasay City.

In a video message on Saturday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian urged individuals and organizations to contribute by donating food or volunteering their time as servers.

“We encourage organizations and individuals who want to help address hunger to visit Nasdake Building in Pasay and volunteer as servers for a day,” Gatchalian said.

Inaugurated on 16 December under the DSWD’s Pag-abot program, the “Walang Gutom” kitchen serves as a central hub for food redistribution.

Hotels, restaurants, and fast food chains are invited to donate surplus food that is still safe to eat, ensuring that edible items are not wasted and are instead shared with those in need.

Gatchalian said that the project will be expanded to other areas across the country in the coming months.

A recent survey by the Social Weather Stations revealed that 22.9 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger in September, a significant rise from 17.6 percent in June of this year.

In a similar initiative, the non-government organization “Scholars of Sustenance” has been working since 2016 to combat food waste, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, water waste, and deforestation.