The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in Taguig has established community pantries in the city’s 28 barangays where people can get free food and supplies.
(Brgy. Captain Harry Pautin / MANILA BULLETIN)
Launched in collaboration with the Taguig City government, the community pantries will source goods from local vendors.
These were inspired by the Maginhawa community pantry which became a model for other pantries in Metro Manila and in the provinces.
The Taguig version will mobilize SK leaders and volunteers in setting up a pantry in each barangay to serve communities.
In Barangay Maharlika, the SK’s community pantry located in front of the Maharlika Elementary School offers food, school supplies, and toiletries including diapers.
Last April 23, the Metro Manila Council, composed of 17 Metro mayors including Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano, approved Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Resolution 21-08, urging organizers of community pantries “to have prior coordination of their activities with the concerned Metro Manila Local Government Units in order to ensure the proper observance of COVID-19 protocols.”
Cayetano had earlier said that community pantries in Taguig should follow health and safety protocols including social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Even if it is the PNP , and the PNP and AFP have many communities, either medical mission or relief mission in Taguig, all of them have to follow our health and safety protocols,” the mayor told PTV4’s “Public Briefing.”
“We welcome it but at the same time, let's be conscious of our health protocols dahil kahit sino po, kahit gobyerno ang magbigay ng ayuda o relief sa ating lungsod, we want to make sure it's safe and that we do not cause any other infections or surges,” said Cayetano.