As part of its advocacy to feed the poor, the ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is feeding hungry street children in Cubao, Quezon City for free through an establishment called Duterte’s Kitchen.
Located near MRT Cubao between Farmers Plaza and Social Security System (SSS) Building, Duterte’s Kitchen currently serves free breakfast, lunch and dinner to around 50 to 70 street children daily.
According to PDP-Laban officials, the free food center is the brainchild of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s national feeding program for the poor.
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 Sec. Alfonso Cusi and others to complement the ruling party’s Social Services and Economic Development Program as well as President Duterte’s advocacy to feed the needy.
The official said the center “is staffed by volunteers who believe in the advocacy of extending help to the underprivileged people and bringing hope and inspiration to them.”
According to him, Duterte’s Kitchen mostly serves free lugaw (rice porridge) and champorado (chocolate rice porridge) for breakfast; rice meal with vegetables, fish, chicken or pork adobo during lunch and dinner, depending on the food provided by donors.
“If we receive donated vegetables, chicken or pork meat, then we serve these to the street children. Before, we only provide food for the street children, but now even hungry adults are also being attended to,” Badon said.
“More importantly, Duterte’s Kitchen also serves as a family center to the street children where volunteers teach them how to read and explain to them the value of education to their lives. We are family to them,” the PDP-Laban official said.
For PDP-Laban, the Cubao project is just the start of a program as Duterte’s Kitchen will soon be established in other parts of the country to help more underprivileged people.
“We will bring Duterte’s Kitchen nationwide to feed and teach children roaming the streets so that we can uplift their situation,” Badon said.
However, officials of the ruling party were quick to admit that the Herculean task of helping the poor is no easy feat.
“There are numerous needs that have yet to be met, but through the help of kind and generous volunteers and donors, we are very optimistic that Duterte’s Kitchen will soon provide a comprehensive temporary shelter for street children where they can be provided with food, emergency medical care and basic education in the near future. (PNA)
