Pasay city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to work toward President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s birthday wish for a Philippines free from hunger, as the agency joined the celebration of his 68th birthday by serving clients at the Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) in Pasay City. Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized the DSWD's dedication to advancing initiatives that ensure food security for impoverished families in the nation.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian expressed the agency's ongoing efforts to fulfill the President's desire for no Filipino family to experience hunger. As he served hot meals to WGK clients, Gatchalian stated, "We will continue to ensure that our President's birthday wish for the people is fulfilled - that no Filipino family will go hungry." He highlighted the President's ambition to expand the initiative further, envisioning more soup kitchens and similar facilities to combat hunger across the country.

Gatchalian also referenced recent survey results from Social Weather Stations (SWS), commissioned by Globe Telecom and Monde Nissin, which demonstrated the effectiveness of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) in reducing involuntary hunger. The survey indicated a 7.2 percent decrease in hunger incidence among WGP beneficiaries across 10 regions and 22 provinces from October 2024 to March 2025.

During the celebration, families and individuals relished a special meal of lechon and birthday cake sent by President Marcos himself, according to Gatchalian.