The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Filipino actor Joel Torre’s restaurant chain, JT’s Manukan Grille, have launched a partnership called “JT’s Meals for the Kids” to support schoolchildren and food-insecure families in the Philippines. The initiative aims to raise PHP 12 million (US$220,000) over two years by contributing PHP 1 for every order of grilled chicken sold across JT’s branches in the Philippines, Dubai, and Singapore. Funds will be channeled through WFP’s ShareTheMeal platform to maximize impact.
Joel Torre, President and CEO of JT’s Manukan Grille, emphasized the role of food as a force for change, noting that each meal purchased contributes to a child’s path toward a healthier and more hopeful future. The partnership underscores the brand’s commitment to family, nourishment, and shared moments while addressing hunger in the Philippines.
The funds raised through the campaign will enable WFP to expand its programs for food-insecure households, including school meals, emergency response, resilience-building initiatives, and government-led social protection programs. Regis Chapman, WFP Philippines Representative and Country Director, highlighted the importance of private-sector partnerships in providing nutritious school meals and supporting vulnerable families, moving closer to a future with zero hunger.
WFP collaborates closely with the Philippine Government to scale up home-grown school feeding programs, which deliver daily hot meals to students using ingredients sourced from local farmers. This year, these efforts have reached over 12,000 schoolchildren in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Isabela province in Luzon, while engaging more than 2,800 smallholder farmers. WFP continues to provide technical assistance to national and regional governments to further expand these programs.
