A civil society network “condemned” the government’s decision not to allow the setting up of “community pantries” during the “enhanced community quarantine” that will start on Friday, August 6.
“The community pantries have helped the poor,” said Inday Bagasbas, convenor of AYUDA Network, an alliance of civil society groups that calls for economic aid and programs during the pandemic.
“People from all walks of life contributed when the poor had nothing during previous lockdowns,” she said, adding that the government seemed to have no plans how to feed the poor.
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced that it is discouraging the conduct of community pantries to prevent people from converging.
“If you are thinking of giving out goods, why don’t we coordinate it with [local government units] and probably you could help us do it through manpower,” said MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos.
He said whatever help can be distributed house-to-house. “Everything should really be coordinated,” he said in an online town hall session.
“Community pantries” emerged across the national capital in April when the region was placed under strict health restrictions due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The idea behind the community pantries is for people to take what they need and to give what they can. The pantries, however, drew long queues of people who get free food and basic necessities.
From August 6 to 20, the national capital region will again be under lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 cases driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.
In previous lockdowns, millions of people lost their jobs and livelihood, “and have had to do whatever they can just to put food on their plates,” noted the AYUDA Network.
The group said the initiatives, including community kitchens, have benefited scores of people affected by the lockdown.
“Community solidarity filled the gap where the government failed to provide,” read the group’s statement.
The network has been encouraging people to help in whatever way they can to set up and maintain community pantries and other similar initiatives.
“Solidarity and our shared ideals of helping those in need should prevail,” said the group, adding that organizers and local government officials should find common ground on how to carry on with the initiatives.
The group called on the government anew to fast-track the provision of cash aid that it promised before the lockdown starts.
