In a milestone initiative for child nutrition and food security, the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Basilan, ZuelligFamily Foundation (ZFF), and the League of CorporateFoundations (LCF), officially inaugurated the first Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Central Kitchen in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The launch took placeon June 26, 2025, at the Provincial Government of Basilan Compound in Isabela City.
The BLT Central Kitchen is designed to serve young childrenup to 5 years old, as well as pregnant and lactating women inIsabela City and Lantawan. The initiative reflects a collaborative effort among local leaders, community stakeholders, and national partners to provide safe, nutritiousmeals to those who need them most.
Organizations under LCF’s Initiative for Food Security, Nutrition,and Empowerment (LIFE) Program began to lead conversations for the project in 2024, with support from ZFF already working inthe province. Since its launch, the province of Basilan has beenone of LIFE’s primary areas of focus, hence LCF’s hand in thepartnership.
Recognizing the urgent need for nutrition interventions inBasilan, particularly among vulnerable children and mothers, the Provincial Local Government (PLGU), under Governor Jim Hataman-Salliman, committed to establishing the region’s first BLT Central Kitchen in partnership with JGF.
“We chose to begin in Basilan not only because of the high need, but also because of the strong commitment of the local government,” said LA Cruzat, JGF’s Program Director. “Kami po sa Jollibee Group Foundation ay punong pag-asa na mapapatakbo nang mahusay ang BLTKitchen upang sa ganon ay marami pa tayong maabot atmatulungan, hindi lang dito sa Basilan kundi sa iba pangprobinsya sa BARMM.”
(“We at Jollibee Group Foundation are hopeful that the BLT Kitchen will run smoothly so that we may reach many others,not just here in Basilan but in other provinces across the BARMM as well.”)
Following the inauguration will be capacity-building training forCentral Kitchen operations and recipe simulation activities for Muslim-friendly meals.
To date, a total of 37 BLT kitchens have been established nationwide—33 are currently operational, with 4 newly constructed kitchens. Fifteen of these kitchens are now servingas Kitchen Training Centers. In 2024, BLT kitchens servedmeals to 24,844 children in 250 schools across the country.
Under the broader Joy of Learning program, JGF’s BLT Central Kitchen Program demonstrates the power of community-based solutions in addressing malnutrition and stunting. Byharnessing the strengths of partnership—resources, expertise,and a shared purpose—it sets a strong precedent for inclusive, community-led models in BARMM and beyond.
For more information on Jollibee Group, visit Jollibee Group’sofficial website
