CEBU CITY—Police here will continue their own version of community pantry dubbed as “barangayanihan” even after President Duterte’s pronouncement that such activities may cause the spread of COVID-19.
Though the barangayanihan, the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) started giving various goods since last week to families that were badly affected by the pandemic.
Among the items available in barangayanihan were medicines and vitamins.
Police Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, deputy city director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office, said the barangayanihan will continue in the absence of a formal order to stop it.
“We have not receive any order from the higher headquarters so the police’s giving of relief aids will continue,” Parilla said.
Parilla said health protocols will be strictly enforced in every community pantry in which only 15 to 20 people will be allowed to line up at a time.
At the Mabolo Police Station Wednesday, Association of Barangay Council-Cebu City President Franklyn Ong arrived with boxes of relief goods.
Ong said he admired the initiative of the police of putting up their own pantries.
“Salute to our policemen. They are risking their lives in serving the people and now they came up with this initiative that will be a big help for the needy,” said Ong.
Ong turned over the relief goods to Police Major Francis Talosig, chief of the Mabolo Police Station, which has the biggest jurisdiction among the police stations in the city with 15 barangays under it.