Palace: Community pantries during ECQ require LGU approval

MANILA, Philippines — Organizers of community pantries must coordinate with local government units (LGUs) if they plan to hold humanitarian activities during the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period over Metro Manila, Malacañang said Thursday.

“Kinakailangan makipag-ugnayan po lahat ng humanitarian activities pati mga community pantries sa LGU. Kasi ang anyo po ng ECQ, lahat dapat homeliners except kung bibili o kukuha ng pangangailangan,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

(All humanitarian activities and community pantries should be coordinated with the LGUs. Because under ECQ, everyone should stay at home except buying goods and other necessities.)

“Naiintindihan natin na importante ang humanitarian relief para doon sa mga wala talagang pambili ng pagkain pero they have to coordinate with the LGUs,” he added.

(But we understand that humanitarian relief is important for those who don’t have money to buy food, but this must be coordinated with the LGUs.)

If organizers are allowed by the LGUs, Roque said the local officials will designate the area of the pantry and enforce minimum health protocols.

Metro Manila will revert to the most restrictive ECQ starting Friday, August 6 until August 20 to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.

READ: Metro Manila under ECQ from August 6 to 20

Earlier this year, community pantries started popping up in various neighborhoods in the country to help people whose livelihoods were affected by the lockdowns.

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