'HUKAD' GROUP OF RESTAURANTS PARTNERS WITH DSWD TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
'HUKAD' GROUP OF RESTAURANTS PARTNERS WITH DSWD 
In a landmark partnership with DSWD Field Office 7, the Cebu Golden Restaurant, Inc. (CGRI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to employ persons with disabilities (PWDs) who have completed the free commercial cooking training course of the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) II.
The parties had the MOA signing on August 13, 2025, at the AVRC II Multi-Purpose Hall. Human Resource Manager Michelle Tabaniag and Human Resource Officer Thearica B. Roselle, representing CGRI, while Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero and Training Superintendent II Dr. Jera C. Armendarez represented DSWD 7 and AVRC II.
Under the agreement, AVRC II graduates specializing in commercial cooking will have employment opportunities across the group’s restaurant brands, including Hukad and Golden Cowrie.
"This partnership is our way of giving back to the community of Cebuanos whose support has been unwavering through the years," Tabaniag said. "We want to extend that goodness to persons with disabilities by opening doors for them to become part of our workforce."
She also shared that CGRI, an entity affiliated with the Cebuano brand Orange Brutus, has long been committed to providing employment opportunities for AVRC II graduates, including Deaf and Mute individuals, who are now working in both kitchen and service roles.
Tabaniag emphasized that this collaboration forms part of CGRI's corporate social responsibility initiatives, which advocate for inclusivity and empowerment of the disability community. "Through this partnership, we affirm our commitment to providing meaningful employment opportunities for AVRC II graduates and to supporting their journey toward self-reliance," she added.
Since 2009, AVRC II has been offering free commercial cooking training for PWDs, producing 109 graduates to date, including 27 in the last three years. One of its graduates, Apple Gie Lanza, a Deaf individual, is now working as a kitchen staff member at a hotel in Cebu City. "I am grateful to AVRC II for training me in commercial cooking. Now that I am working, I can support my family," Lanza shared.
Regional Director Lucero expressed optimism that the CGRI partnership will encourage more restaurants and businesses in the food industry to employ PWDs. "We are glad that this initiative continues to be championed by CGRI, and we hope more establishments will follow suit by providing PWDs the opportunity to showcase their skills and become productive members of the workforce," she said.
Lucero also highlighted AVRC II’s ongoing efforts to equip trainees with future-ready skills while pursuing strong partnerships that translate training into sustainable employment.
Currently, AVRC II’s commercial cooking trainees are preparing for On-the-Job Training with partner establishments, including CGRI, which will welcome the first batch of endorsed trainees.
