Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, in close coordination with the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), distributed 2,000 hot meals prepared by the McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen (MKK) to the Manila City Government last November 16, 2020.
The effort was part of the Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG) campaign, an informal partnership between stakeholders in government and the private sector.
“The hunger issue has been heightened because of the recent typhoon which struck the National Capital Region.”
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and other local officials received the food packs which were distributed to families all over the city.
During the distribution ceremony, Nograles stressed that “We are working with the private sector to address the pressing problem of hunger, which unsurprisingly is present even in metropolitan areas. The hunger issue has been heightened because of the recent typhoon which struck the National Capital Region.”
The Malacañang official was joined in the event by Kenneth Yang, McDonald’s President & CEO and RMHC President, Margot Torres, McDonald’s Managing Director & RMHC Vice President, Kin Lichauco, Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs of San Miguel Corp. and Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, Director of Public Affairs and Communications of Coca-Cola Philippines.
Nograles, who chairs the government’s Task Force Zero Hunger, has been closely working with private groups and individuals for the PKG initiative, which he called “a multisectoral movement that also includes the academe, non-profit organizations, leading corporate entities in the country, and members of the public who all advocate for putting an end to involuntary hunger and addressing food shortages during emergencies.
The official likewise explained that apart from formulating anti-hunger policies, the Task Force is part of an all-encompassing program to form a lasting and effective public-private partnership that aims to achieve food security for Filipino families.
“Our approach is comprehensive. We aim to address food production, food distribution and accessibility, and combat malnutrition both in urban areas and in the countryside,” remarked the Zero Hunger Czar.
The RMHC, which was established in 1995, is the charity arm of McDonald’s Philippines. Part of its mission is to effect positive changes in the lives of children through meaningful programs in education, health and wellness.
The group has so far distributed 320,000 meals through its McDo Kindness Kitchen to healthcare workers, police and security personnel, LGU volunteers, government agencies and local communities.
The group has so far distributed 320,000 meals through its McDo Kindness Kitchen to healthcare workers, police and security personnel, LGU volunteers, government agencies and local communities.
For his part, Mayor Isko Moreno thanked the RMHC and Nograles for the food assistance, citing “the urgent need for all sectors to cooperate on the hunger problem because many Filipino families need assistance in their everyday nutritional needs.”