Manila, April 14 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is looking to expand its "Walang Gutom" Kitchen program which provides feeding and food credits to poverty-stricken Filipinos.

The move comes after a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed 52 percent of the respondents consider their families poor, slightly higher from 50 percent in January and 51 percent in February. Hunger incidence also rose, according to a prior survey.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday, DSWD Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Irene Dumlao acknowledged the complex nature of hunger and poverty, and the agency is strengthening its efforts through a multi-pronged, inter-agency approach.

She said the DSWD is eyeing the expansio...