President Marcos Visits New Community Kitchen
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the newly launched "Walang Gutom Kitchen" at Ong Kin King in Pier 4, Cebu City, on Monday, June 22, 2026. The community kitchen, managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), provides free and nutritious meals for homeless individuals and families in need.
Beneficiaries and Initial Impact
Approximately 300 to 400 street dwellers and mendicants in Cebu City are expected to benefit from the new "Walang Gutom Kitchen." According to Mayor Nestor Archival Sr., this initiative marks the beginning of addressing the city's long-standing problem of homelessness and street begging.
Archival stated that the DSWD initiative helps the city manage and eventually rehabilitate individuals living on the streets by providing immediate food assistance and connecting them to longer-term support programs.
Memorandum of Agreement and Implementation
"We have been working on this for a long time. We see that this helps, especially for our people on the streets," Archival said during the launch. The mayor noted that the City of Cebu and the DSWD entered into a memorandum of agreement approved by the City Council about two months ago, but implementation has just begun.
He described the Walang Gutom Kitchen as a jumpstart program for street dwellers, particularly those who have long lived on sidewalks and public spaces. "The idea is that people who are homeless and on the streets have a place to go and eat. This is the jumpstart to their new life," he said.
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Package
Archival added that the program is connected to a broader "whole package" intervention, which includes transferring beneficiaries to a city facility in Barangay Labangon, where they will be assessed for possible employment or return to their home provinces. The city also reported that about 10 to 14 individuals living on the streets are believed to be suffering from severe conditions related to illegal drugs and require special intervention.
Operational Details and Expansion Plans
The Walang Gutom Kitchen, located near the port of Cebu City, initially serves lunch only but will later expand to provide breakfast and lunch daily. It can serve up to 200 beneficiaries per session and accepts walk-ins without requiring registration.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the facility is part of the national expansion of the anti-hunger program that started in Pasay City and has now reached the Visayas. The program also includes efforts to reduce food waste by accepting surplus food from hotels, restaurants, and partner institutions, including fast-food chains and hotel associations.
