Las pi±as city: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday underscored the role of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) in addressing hunger and malnutrition as beneficiaries demonstrated how lessons learned translate into healthy and affordable meals during the Walang Gutom Kusinero: Cook-Off Challenge - National Capital Region (NCR) leg.
According to Philippines News Agency, the cooking challenge highlights how nutrition education empowers food-poor families to make informed food choices and maximize government assistance. Gatchalian emphasized the importance of not only distributing food credits but also teaching families to prepare nutritious and affordable meals. During the event at the Aguilar Sports Complex in Las Pi±as City, he stated, "We don't just give them food credits. We also teach them the importance of preparing cheap but nutritious food for their family."
Under the WGP, eligible food-poor households receive PHP3,000 in monthly food credits, coupled with regular nutrition education sessions focusing on balanced diets, proper meal preparation, and smart food budgeting. Gatchalian noted that these sessions are a key component of the WGP's strategy to ensure that food assistance leads to long-term improvements in household nutrition.
The cook-off celebrated the knowledge gained over years of nutrition education, where participants showcased their understanding of food groups - the go, grow, and glow. The DSWD chief highlighted the significance of this approach, stating that it is important to change their behavior and knowledge through such activities.
During the competition, the top five provincial-level winners from the NCR competed for the regional championship. Participants from different barangays in Quezon City and Tondo, Manila, prepared unique dishes like dinuguang puso ng saging, calderetang tambakol, seafood pinangat, kare-kareng bangus, and tortang kalabasa with daing flakes.
Kusinera Cristina Dakendek and Assistant Kusinera Rosalie Mata of Barangay Bahay Pag-asa, Quezon City, emerged as NCR regional champions for their dinuguang puso ng saging, scoring 94 percent. They received PHP10,000 in cash, livelihood grants under the DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and a Masflex cookware set.
Dakendek expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the entire DSWD for reaching out to poor Filipino families like hers. She stated, "Thank you, thank you so much lalo at higit sa lahat, sa DSWD at Walang Gutom Program, at yung may akda nito na si President Marcos. Thank you po sa ganitong patimpalak dahil nakakasama po ang mahihirap na kagaya ko."
The dishes were judged by renowned chefs Marky Bartolome, Regina Patricia Cojuangco-Gonzales, Rolando Laudico, Connh Crus, and Rafael John Maclang. The 'Walang Gutom Kusinero: Cook-Off Challenge' serves as one of the advocacy strategies of the DSWD to promote nutrition education, sustainable food practices, and informed food choices among food-poor families, supporting the Marcos administration's goal to reduce involuntary hunger nationwide.
