In this photo taken before the COVID-19 pandemic, children are singing Christmas carols near lanterns on display, locally known as “parol” along a street in Manila. – The food bank of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be open on December 24, 2024, Christmas Eve, and December 31, 2024, New Year’s Eve, according to an official of the agency. DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the food bank is open to all families and individuals in street situations (FISS) and those experiencing involuntary hunger. Agence France-Presse Photo/Ted Aljibe
MANILA, Philippines — The “Walang Gutom” Kitchen of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be open on December 24, Christmas Eve, and December 31, New Year’s Eve.
The DSWD also announced Tuesday that the Walang Gutom Kitchen will only be closed on December 25, Christmas Day, and January 1, New Year’s Day, because it will likewise be operational from December 26 to December 30.
“Our Walang Gutom Kitchen will continue to provide food on December 24, 30, and 31 which are holidays,” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a statement.
“The Walang Gutom Kitchen is open to all families and individuals in street situations (FISS) and those experiencing involuntary hunger,” she added.
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DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Saturday called for food and service donations for the kitchen located at Nasdake Building in Pasay City.
The DSWD launched its first Walang Gutom Kitchen under its Pag-abot program on December 16. The kitchen serves as a food bank where hotels, restaurants, and fast food chains can donate food that is not consumed for the day but is still edible and safe for consumption.
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The DSWD chief said that they will open more branches of the food bank to help eliminate hunger among poor Filipinos nationwide.
The DSWD is responsible for the implementation and management of the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program,” which has been declared as a flagship program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.