PNP: Community pantry not prohibited but barangay coordination needed

The Philippine National Police (PNP) advised people and groups that are planning to set up community pantries during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period in Metro Manila to seek first the approval of the Local Government Units (LGUs).

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said there is already an existing guideline which requires that community pantries should coordinate with the LGUs, especially at the barangay level, in order to ensure that minimum public health safety protocols are observed.

"While it is true that community pantries are not being prohibited, it should have coordination with the barangays. This is just only two weeks so it would be better that we should just work together," said Eleazar.

"On the part of the PNP, we are appealing that if there are plans to set up community pantries, it would be better that past scenarios of a lot of people lining up should not happen again. Because this would defeat the purpose of the ECQ implementation," said Eleazar.

Metro Manila will be under ECQ from August 6 to 20 as part of the measures to contain the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus disease which is described as more transmissible.

Instead of allowing people to queue at the community pantries, Eleazar said that it would be better that the food assistance be distributed at the beneficiaries' houses with the help of the barangay officials.