The community pantries prepare for their food distribution as Metro Manila is subjected to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) again.
Manila will be placed on the 2-week strictest quarantine status starting Friday to control the spread of COVID-19 also in the face of the threat of the more contagious Delta variant.
Ana Patricia Non, the organizer of Maginhawa community pantry, regrets that they are back to ECQ again. Hence, they are busy repacking kilos of ingredients in porridge, soup, and mami in Marikina.
“Hindi na aabot kung may ayuda kasi start na ng lockdown bukas, so hinahabol talaga ng community pantries na ‘pag na-lockdown may kakainin, may lulutuin,” said Non.
“May mga pamilya na nakaasa sa pantry, hndi na kayang antayin ‘yong ayuda kung may ayuda man,” she added.
The strategy of many community pantry organizers is to create a roving community kitchen and go from house to house to provide food instead of people lining up for them.
“Mahalaga talaga ngayon is pagkain na maihahain natin sa bawat pamilya dito sa komunidad,” said Rich Salas, community kitchen organizer at Cross League.
Members of the Tanging Yaman Foundation, which organizes pantries in 7 dioceses in Metro Manila, have also repacked vegetables at the gym of Ateneo de Manila University.
Community pantries will be roving to distribute food during ECQ
“Hindi tayo makakaahon mula sa ating sitwasyon kung hindi tayo magtutulungan,” said Fr. Manoling Francisco, chair of Tanging Yaman Foundation.
The staff of the Diocese of Pasig will also go from house to house to distribute food to their constituents so that the parishioners do not have to go out.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reminded the community pantry organizer to contact local government units.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Benhur Abalos said Tuesday that community pantries might not be allowed to open once the enhanced community quarantine begins in the National Capital Region on August 6.
“Ang problema kasi sa pantry, kung pipila ka, baka maging super spreader event. Siguro i-coordinate na lamang para bahay-bahay na lang po ito,” Abalos said during Laging Handa briefing.
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