Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said on Tuesday (April 20) good deeds such as the setting up of community pantries “need no permit".
"We don't require permit, good deeds need no permit," Domagoso said.
The mayor made his point after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that community pantry organizers should consult with their respective barangays if "such is required."
Domagoso expressed his gratitude to community pantry organizers, saying that amid the COVID-19 pandemic they are still helping and offering kindness to their fellow citizens.
"Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na sa gitna ng kahirapan ng bawat isa sa pandemya ito umiral ang pagmamahal at pagmamalasakitan ng ating kapwa (I thank God that in the midst of everyone's poverty in this pandemic, love and concern of our fellow men prevail)," he said.
He added, "Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mamamayan na gumagawa ng kabutihan sa kapwa. Manatili po sanang ganyan at walang susuko, kaya natin ito at may awa ang Diyos makakaraos din tayo (Thank you very much to all the people who do good to others. Please stay like that and no one will give up, we can do this and through God’s mercy we can survive."
The local chief executive also said that this act of giving can help inspire the city government’s food security program.
"At ito ay gagamitin nating inspirasyon sa paglilingkod sa bayan upang pagbutihin pa ang serbisyo ng pamahalaang lungsod lalo na ‘yung FSP natin or Food Security Program 2021 (And we will use this as inspiration to further improve the service of the city government especially our FSP or Food Security Program 2021)," Domagoso said.
Around 200 community pantries -- inspired by the Maginhawa Community Pantry in Quezon City -- popped up across the country.