Community pantries fill gaps amid ‘absent’ gov’t — Ex-VP Binay

People line up to get free food supplies at the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City on Saturday, April 17, 2021, after the project went viral this week as more people donate food stock on a small shelf where underprivilaged people can access it but are told to only get what they need.
INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Community pantries started popping up in different neighborhoods due to the desire of Filipinos to look after one another amid an “absent” government, former Vice President Jejomar Binay said.

“The message behind the rise of community pantries is simple: when government is absent, we can look after each other,” Binay said in a tweet Sunday.

“When the situation seems hopeless, we can lift each other’s spirit. Magtulungan, magtiwala sa isa’t-isa, at manalig sa Maykapal,” he added.

The message behind the rise of community pantries is simple: when government is absent, we can look after each other. When the situation seems hopeless, we can lift each other’s spirit. Magtulungan, magtiwala sa isa’t-isa, at manalig sa Maykapal.

— Jejomar C. Binay (@JojoCBinay) April 18, 2021

As the country reels from the effects of the  COVID-19 pandemic, Filipinos have extended a helping hand by making food donations to community pantries, which aims to help those in need amid challenging times.

This idea was borne out of an initiative taken by a small Quezon City business owner, who set up the “Maginhawa Community Pantry,” a bamboo cart containing donated food and other essential goods.

(Photo: Ana Patricia Non)

Community pantry initiated by residents and members of the Vespa Club, located at the corner of Maria Clara and Crisostomo Streets in Sampaloc, Manila. Image from Lowell Isidro

The makeshift pantry in Sampaloc, Manila, as inspired by the one initiated by the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City. Screenshot of the Facebook post of Toots Vergara

These street pantries made their way to other communities as Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan and Laguna remain under the modified enhanced community quarantine amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.

The Philippines’ COVID-19 active cases breached the 200,000-mark on Saturday after the Department of Health reported 11,101 additional infections.

The country’s COVID-19 tally now stands at 926,052, including  706,532 recoveries and 15,810 deaths.

EDV