The Department of Health (DOH) urged local governments to assist organizers of community pantries in ensuring their efforts to provide essential goods during the pandemic were kept safe against the coronavirus. 

In a press briefing on Monday, April 19, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire lauded the effort of several Filipinos to set up community pantries, saying it was a boost to the physical and mental health of the public during the health crisis. 

Vergeire said there was no need to stop these, adding local government officials should just aid in ensuring that physical distancing was observed among people who were gathering in public spaces to avoid the spread of COVID-19. 

“Unang una, nirerecognize natin yung effort ng ating kababayan na talagang tutulong po sila sa ating mga nangangailangan and that is very important… Kailangan lang siguro ma-guide sila ng local governments kung paano dapat ang proseso para hindi magkukumpol-kumpol yung mga tao, hindi rin po magkakaroon tong pagdampot ng pagkain na hindi na natin nakikita gaano kaligtasan for health,” she said. 

(First, we recognize the effort of our countrymen who will really help those in need – that is very important. Perhaps local governments just need to guide them on the process to avoid crowding of people and to make sure that picking up food here won’t put people’s health at risk)

“I call on our local governments to give guidance on how to make the process more organized so we can prevent further infections from these pantries,” she added in a mix of English and Filipino. 

In the recent week, citizens in various areas all over the country have put up in marked common areas carts stocked with food, hygiene products, alcohol, and other basic necessities to help those who have lost income due to the pandemic. 

The carts usually come with signs that read the location of where the pantries were set up along with its working principle: “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan (Give what you can, take according to what you need.)” 

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“Hindi kailangan itigil dahil sa tingin ko malaking tulong din po ito both sa physical wellness at saka sa mental wellness ng ating kababayan. Yun pong nakikita nilang mga handang tumulong ay malaking bagay po yan para sa kumpiyansa at para po sa wellness ng ating mga kababayan,” Vergeire said.

(We shouldn’t stop this, because it is a big help to both the physical and mental wellness of our countrymen. Seeing people ready to help is a big boost to people’s confidence and wellness.) 

While many have praised the presence of the pantries, others have pointed out the initiative highlights the gaps of Duterte government’s program to deliver aid during the pandemic. 

Responding to this, Malacañang on Monday said it sees only good things in the rise of community pantries, refusing to see it as an indication of any failure of its programs to alleviate suffering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t see that as condemnation of government. It simply shows the best in us during the worst of times,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque. – Rappler.com