President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday visited the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK), where he helped serve food and joined beneficiaries for a meal as part of his administration’s push to end involuntary hunger.

The WGK operates as a community food bank and soup kitchen, serving around 600 walk-in clients daily.

It also extends assistance through the DSWD’s Pag-abot program, learning activities under ‘Tara, Basa!’, and case management services that include assessment, intervention planning, and progress tracking for homeless families.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the President inspected the operations to underscore his directive of making hunger eradication the agency’s “mission number one.”

“The President wants us to open more food bank – soup kitchens nationwide to combat hunger,” Gatchalian said.

The Pasay kitchen is the first of its kind, with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos as its first volunteer.

It currently provides comprehensive biopsychosocial services, including nutritious meals, tutoring for children, and tailored support for families in crisis.

Since its launch, the program has served 108,552 individuals and provided a total of 152,959 meals as of Sept. 17, according to DSWD. (PNA)