SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez, through the ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, has launched Duterte’s Kitchen in Cubao, Quezon City whose main task is to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s national feeding program for the poor where it currently feeds street children.
Glen Badon, PDP-Laban national executive director, said Duterte’s Kitchen was agreed upon following a meeting of Alvarez with other key party leaders, including Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and others to complement their Social Services and Economic Development Program and President Duterte’s desire to address poverty and hunger in the country.
“It was the brainchild of the Speaker after their meeting,” Badon said of Duterte’s Kitchen, managed by Dexter Baracael.
Badon said Duterte’s Kitchen, near MRT Cubao between Farmers Plaza and Social Security System Building, is feeding between 50 and 70 street children daily during breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“Before, we only provided food for the street children, but now even hungry adults are being attended to,” said Badon, noting the program started a few weeks after President Duterte assumed office in July.
He said Duterte’s Kitchen mostly serves free “lugaw” or rice porridge and champorado or chocolate rice porridge for breakfast, rice meal with vegetables, fish, adobong manok and baboy (chicken and pork) during lunch and dinner.
According to Badon, “the staff are volunteers who believe on the advocacy of extending help to the underprivileged people and bring hope and inspiration to them.”
“The food being served also depends on the donors. If we receive donated vegetables, chicken or pork meat, then we serve these to the street children and even to the elders,” Badon said.
Badon said Duterte’s Kitchen also serves as a family center for the street children where volunteers teach them to read and explain the value of education to their lives.
“Duterte’s Kitchen provides street children the means to uplift their lives. We have programs that will equip them with knowledge like teaching them to read. We are family to them,” Badon stressed.
He said Duterte’s Kitchen would be established also in other parts of the country very soon to also help the underprivileged people.
“We will bring Duterte’s Kitchen nationwide to feed and teach children roaming the streets aimed at uplifting their situation,” Badon said.
He said the Duterte government would want to intensify the government feeding program by feeding the poor.
Badon hoped Duterte’s Kitchen would soon provide a comprehensive temporary shelter, emergency medical and feeding, and basic education in the future through the help of volunteers and donors.
