The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged community pantry organizers on Friday, April 23, to coordinate with the police and local government units (LGUs) in setting up their barangay-based initiatives to ensure that minimum health standards and safety protocols are strictly observed.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año stressed this after an elderly man collapsed and later died in the hospital while queueing at the community pantry organized by actress Angel Locsin in Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City.

He said they were "alarmed" by the incident as he noted that Locsin and her companions should have coordinated with the barangay, Quezon City government, and the Philippine National Police for crowd control.

“It's the organizer's responsibility to impose the minimum health standards. That's the primary reason why they have to coordinate with the LGUs so that the latter can provide assistance,” Año said.

“Since somebody died, the PNP has to conduct an investigation. We cannot ascertain yet who could be liable until the completion of the investigation,” he added.

But Año stressed the DILG supports and encourages the establishment of community pantries in the country so long as it is done orderly.

“The community pantry has been a traditional practice in our country as part of Bayanihan culture and spirit especially in times of calamities and disasters. Iba iba lang ang pangalan (It only has different names). In the spirit of Bayanihan, many Filipinos have been doing selfless acts of kindness since last year,” the DILG chief explained.

Nonetheless, Año said that the organizers must adhere to existing laws and local ordinances especially those issued to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“The PNP and/or local officials may just come in if there is any violation of the law, if there are complaints from the community, or if the organizers seek their help. The LGUs, barangays, and the PNP are ready to provide utmost assistance to ensure orderly distribution to the public,” he said.

Reports said that the victim, Rolando dela Cruz, 67, lost consciousness at around 9 a.m. Friday while lined up at the community pantry set up by Locsin for her birthday. The old man was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival by the doctors.

Locsin, in a Facebook video, took responsibility over the mess even as she insisted that the initiative was meant to provide food and other necessities to those who are in need.

She noted that the people in line were given checklists to enable them to choose quickly the goods they wanted to get, adding that the health protocols were followed when the community pantry opened but things turned chaotic when others jumped in the line.

There were also law enforcers present when the community pantry started, she said.