MANILA, Philippines — The Muntinlupa City Fire Department has set up its own pantry after dozens of community pantries popped up in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
In a Twitter post on Tuesday, former Customs commissioner now Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon posted photos of the pantry and challenged the recent incidents of community pantries getting red-tagged.
“Community pantries being red-tagged? How about the Muntinlupa City Fire Department which has its own community pantry?” asked Biazon.
Community pantries being red-tagged? How about the Muntinlupa City Fire Department which has its own community pantry? pic.twitter.com/B4Z0RkvVaR
— Ruffy Biazon (@ruffybiazon) April 20, 2021
Meanwhile, the Eastern Police District (EPD) in Pasig City also started its own community pantry, after being inspired by the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City.
Recently, the organizer of Maginhawa community pantry, Ana Patricia Non, asked for help saying that police recently profiled her and three members of the police force have asked for her number and her organization.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has since then demanded the city authorities explain the incident.
Netizens have also called out police officers allegedly profiling organizers of the community pantry projects in the city of Manila.
MPD Director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, however, has since then clarified that there was no order from him to profile the community pantry organizers — rather, it was just to maintain peace and order in the area.
In the past days, community pantries popped up in parts of Metro Manila, providing free basic needs including food, rice, and vegetables to those in need.
The initiative started in Maginhawa, Quezon City before spreading in several places in Metro Manila, reaching as far as Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya.
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