Walang Gutom Kitchen: Free meal center opens in Cebu City

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Hundreds of locals can now access free hot meals daily after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) formally opened the Walang Gutom Kitchen in Cebu City on June 22, 2026.

The feeding center is designed to provide immediate food assistance while connecting beneficiaries to longer-term social welfare programs.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who led the facility’s inauguration, said the initiative seeks to address hunger and other social challenges affecting disadvantaged sectors.

“Pwedeng pumunta dito ang mga nakakaranas ng kagutuman para makakuha ng free warm meals seven days a week, mula umaga hanggang tanghali,” Gatchalian said.

(Those experiencing hunger can come here to receive free warm meals seven days a week, from morning until noon.)

READ: Ending hunger by 2027: How far has Marcos’ Walang Gutom program come?

Although open to the general public, the program primarily serves children, individuals, and families in street situations, as well as food-insecure households.

Walang Gutom Kitchen

The Walang Gutom Kitchen currently serves free lunch to around 250 beneficiaries per shift for the remainder of June.

Beginning in July, the facility will provide both breakfast and lunch every day.

Operations run daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., including weekends and holidays, to ensure uninterrupted access to meals and social welfare services.

The feeding center is located at the OKK Square Unit in Pier 4 along Arellano Boulevard, corner Gen. Maxilom Extension in Cebu City.

READ: Walang Gutom beneficiaries hit 600K nationwide — DSWD

Gatchalian said the site was selected because it is surrounded by communities with significant needs and is accessible to a large number of people.

He added that its proximity to the port would allow port workers and other laborers to avail themselves of free meals during breaks.

The location also serves as a convergence point for residents coming from Cebu Province and neighboring urban areas, making the services more accessible to those who need them.

“Marami dito ‘yong communities na nangangailangan ng tulong (There are many communities here that are in need of assistance),” Gatchalian said.

READ: PUV drivers can get free meals at DSWD’s Walang Gutom Kitchen

For vulnerable communities

Residents from different parts of Cebu visited the facility on its first day of operations with assistance from DSWD personnel.

Among them was Carriego Angelina Booyaban, a 65-year-old resident of Barangay Ermita, who welcomed the program and said it would benefit struggling families in nearby communities.

“Kadaghan man gud diri mga dayo, naay uban sad na walay panginabuhian. Naa na silay libre na pakaon, labaw nag naay mga anak na way pang budget,” Booyaban shared.

(There are many people here who are from other places, and some also have no source of income. There is already free food available, especially for families with children and no money for food.)

READ: Walang Gutom: Who qualifies, how they may receive gov’t food aid

Beyond meal distribution, the facility also serves as an access point for other DSWD assistance programs aimed at helping beneficiaries achieve long-term stability.

These services include intervention planning and referrals to temporary shelters for individuals and families without permanent homes.

Children visiting the kitchen may also be enrolled in the agency’s “Tara, Basa!” tutoring program to strengthen their literacy and learning skills.

Gatchalian said the facility likewise functions as a food bank through partnerships with members of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association and commercial food establishments.

Participating establishments may donate food to the center, with all contributions undergoing inspection by sanitation officers and nutritionists to ensure they are safe for consumption.

READ: DSWD enrolls additional 300,000 beneficiaries for Walang Gutom program

Under Walang Gutom Program

The Walang Gutom Kitchen forms part of the government’s broader Walang Gutom Program, the national government’s flagship initiative against hunger.

The Cebu City facility is the second of its kind in the country after the first opened in Pasay City in December 2024.

During its opening on Monday, Gatchalian was joined by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Lucero, and DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay.

Government officials said a third kitchen is expected to open in Zamboanga City in the coming months as the program continues to expand nationwide.

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