San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said on Monday that there are more than 30 community pantries in San Juan that are offering "bayanihan" (community assistance) to those who were affected by the imposition of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila and in the nearby provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo from Mayor Francis Zamora Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
"We have about 30 community pantries all over San Juan and I'm sure that this number will be increasing per day because I see it on social media and I also see it when I go around by bike or by car," Zamora said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
"As we all know, an incident happened over the weekend, something that I'm sure no one wanted to happen, and this should also be a sign for everyone that nothing is wrong with coordinating with the local government. In fact, it's something that should be done to ensure health and safety protocols and ensure peace and order," he added.
On April 23, a 67-year-old man fainted while waiting in line during the opening of the community pantry set up by actress Angel Locsin for her birthday in Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City. The man later died.
Read more: Senior citizen dies as thousands flock to community pantry in Quezon City
"Here in San Juan, I have coordinated with the barangay captains basically just to inform the LGU if a community pantry will open in their barangays so that the city government can deploy personnel to ensure health protocols will be maintained." Zamora said.
The mayor had previously said that the city welcomes the opening of community pantries and lauded the bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos.
“We welcome the opening of community pantries in San Juan. It’s always nice to see people with more blessings sharing to those who are less fortunate.” Zamora said.
“This is the bayanihan spirit of the Filipino people at work.” he added.
Read more: Mayor Zamora lauds opening of community pantries in San Juan