PAGBABAGO Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid Amidst the negativity that had accompanied government response to the pandemic, primarily due to inadequate health infrastructure, breakdown of contact tracing, and delayed response to the delivery of vaccines, among many others, several positive developments have emerged. The latest innovation gives us hope that the Filipino spirit of volunteerism based on collective and cooperative action is very much alive. Much had been said about the Maginhawa community pantry which had been replicated in many parts of the country. The latest report noted that some 15-20 community pantries have sprouted in several parts of Metro Manila and some provinces. It came at a time when the people needed relief from the anxieties brought about by the pandemic. Added to the health issues, a majority of our countrymen are facing prospects of lack of access to food and other economic necessities. Soup kitchens and community pantries are seen as much welcomed alternatives to the slow response from government. But many Filipinos decried on social media the “red-tagging” of Ana Patricia Non, the originator of the Maginhawa concept by the Quezon City Police District and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. And the reason – that it was being used for communist propaganda. It temporarily ceased operations but resumed last Wednesday. We hope that this traditional Filipino value of sharing would continue to be re-kindled with this responsive community initiative. This reminds us that this commendable value of taking only what one needs” has always been embedded as a way of life among our indigenous Filipinos. Our community development workers would relate stories about their experiences with the Aetas around Pinatubo who would tell them when asked why they are not taking all the mature bananas and mangoes would say that they are leaving them for the others. On the community pantry initiative, I haven’t heard about taking more than what is needed by their families or hoarding. Thus, I think the community pantry concept, an example of concern for the welfare of future generations, appears to be working the way the originators wanted. At a time when there is a lot of criticism over our existing health infrastructure with a number of horror stories about COVID patients being turned away because our hospitals are no longer able to accommodate them, Vice President Leni Robredo’s Bayanihan E-Konsulta, which has over 1,000 patient capacity complements our healthcare system. With the help of volunteer doctors and health professionals, E-Konsulta provides free medical services to outpatient cases in the National Capital Region and nearby areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine, and especially to those without access to doctors and information technology platforms. Along with the medical professional’s service, COVID patients are provided with a medical kit which contains some basic healthcare essentials such as Oximeter and pills. Staff from the Office of the Vice President regularly checks up on the patients twice a day. It also has an after consultation patient monitoring link for the free teleconsult. Last Friday, at the virtual Diliman forum sponsored by the Church of the Risen Lord, the UPCYM and UPCYM Acts, and held as part of the celebration of the Quincentennial or 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, guest speaker former Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Gunigundo spoke on “financial inclusion” and of how our banking system and other financial institutions are contributing to a more inclusive society amidst the pandemic. The financial system, being the lifeblood of our economy must remain stable and resilient in order to respond to the economic needs of our people. While the BSP has pumped P2 trillion into the economy which is equivalent to 10 percent of the country’s GDP, it still faces many challenges. The good news is that rural and cooperative banks to which many of our small farmers and entrepreneurs have access to, are adequately capitalized for pandemic shock. Although they are going through ups and downs, they are relatively thriving and are able to avail of relief measures such as small loans, thanks to the BSP’s implementation of regulatory measures. Another achievement is the digital transformation of the banking system that had enabled the opening of several million digital accounts and increase in such innovations as Insta Pay and Peso Net transmission during this lockdown period. Will write more about Deputy Gov. Gunigundo’s insights into how we can narrow down the financial disparities between the center and the periphery through a responsive financial management system. My e-mail, [email protected]