DSWD-6 Launches ‘Walang Gutom’ Fair, Cook-Off Challenge

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas launched the regional leg of its Walang Gutom Program (WGP) through a Productivity Fair and Kusinero Cook-off Challenge on Friday, June 13, at Punta Villa Resort in Iloilo City.

DSWD Undersecretary Eduardo Punay said the event aimed to showcase both the nutrition and livelihood components of Walang Gutom 2027, the government’s flagship anti-hunger initiative.

“We’re here in Iloilo City for the launch of the WGP Productivity Fair and Kusinero Cook-off — an ideal venue, being the City of Gastronomy, to showcase what the program stands for,” Punay said.

“Through this cook-off, we teach our beneficiaries how to prepare meals that are affordable, delicious and nutritious,” he added.

“We want them to realize that healthy food doesn’t have to come at a high cost.”

The Kusinero Cook-off Challenge featured five family beneficiaries from three WGP-implementing provinces.

Each team prepared dishes using techniques learned from the program’s Nutrition Education Sessions (NES), which promote healthy cooking with low-cost, accessible ingredients.

Charina D. Montaño and Reeynan Mandar of Barangay Bongol, Janiuay, Iloilo, emerged as champions with their Ginataang Kalabasa with Mixed Vegetables and Chicken.

The pair will represent the region in the national Kusinero Cook-off in July.

Alongside the competition, the Productivity Fair empowered WGP beneficiaries through access to livelihood training, job placement, and social services.

Partner agencies such as the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) provided on-site consultations and assistance.

The Walang Gutom Program aids low-income households through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards loaded with PHP3,000 monthly food credits.

These credits can be used to purchase nutritious food items from accredited partner stores, ensuring food security for vulnerable families.

In December 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 44, officially making the DSWD’s Food Stamp Program—now known as Walang Gutom 2027—a flagship initiative of his administration.

The program aims to eliminate involuntary hunger by combining direct food assistance with capacity-building measures for sustainable, long-term impact.