The makeshift community pantries that have sprouted in parts of Metro Manila amid the continuing pandemic should be considered a sign of desperation, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Sunday.
While these community pantries are a welcome development, Lacson said these also showed that people have realized they can no longer rely on the government for help.
It is a welcome development though that residents have taken the initiative to help each other, the senator said.
"It is good that through the community pantries, we see mutual aid by neighbors and barangay residents. But this is also a sign of desperation, that people can no longer rely on government to help them," Lacson said in an interview on Radio DZBB.
"That said, those involved in community pantries must also remember to follow the proper health protocols to make sure they do not get infected,” he added.
The initiative was started by a private individual, who carried out this mechanism in Maginhawa Street in Teachers’ Village at Quezon City, to help those in need.
The community pantry has now been replicated in several other areas within and outside of Metro Manila as poor citizens line up for basic needs such as food, rice and vegetables.
"When you realize you cannot rely solely on government, you band together to find ways to survive," Lacson said.
At the same time, the lawmaker said he was concerned that President Duterte's recent claim that the government had no shortcomings in dealing with the pandemic may send the wrong signal to his officials.
Lacson said if subordinates like Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. think they are doing nothing wrong, they would not think of making any adjustments to the government’s COVID-19 response.
"If the President says they have no shortcomings and his subordinates believe it, they will not see the need to make adjustments,” he said.
“But we all know the government has had many shortcomings, including the late purchase of vaccines and over-regulation of the private sector," he emphasized.