As fuel and food prices continue to rise, a youth organization in Pasig City is reviving the community pantry, first popularized during the pandemic, to help struggling transport sector drivers.

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, Mark Daniel C. Alcazar, executive director of PasigLaban Kabataan, said the organization started setting up the community pantry on March 27 at Plaza Rizal in Barangay San Jose to help ease the burden of drivers affected by soaring fuel prices.

The first items they distributed were small packs of rice handed out to jeepney and tricycle drivers, as well as motorcycle riders. Their latest distribution of basic goods took place on March 29 in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

Starting with small packs of rice, the distributions later expanded to include vegetables, canned goods, ready-to-eat meals, instant noodles, and other food items, which Alcazar said were donated by supporters who wanted to help both the transport sector and their initiative.

“Hangga’t kaya, sinisikap naming maabot ang lahat ng driver na aming nakikita. Kabilang dito ang mga nakapilang tricycle driver, mga pumapasadang jeepney driver, at maging ang mga TNVS drivers na naghahatid o nagde-deliver (As much as possible, we strive to reach every driver we see. This includes tricycle drivers waiting in line, jeepney drivers picking up passengers, and even TNVS drivers who are delivering passengers or goods),” Alcazar said.

He added that, beyond the community pantry, the organization’s volunteers also roam the area to hand out food to drivers and other vulnerable sectors.

“Magpapatuloy ang community pantry hangga’t may mga donors na handang makipagbayanihan (The community pantry will continue as long as donors are willing to support the initiative),” he said.

Meanwhile, although initiatives like this provide much-needed help to the community and affected sectors, the group emphasized the need for a proper and long-term solution from the government.

“Kailangan ng mas konkretong hakbang upang matugunan ang pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino sa gitna at pagkatapos ng krisis na ito. Kailanman ay hindi magiging sapat ang ayuda bilang tugon sa problemang kinakaharap ng ating bansa (More concrete measures are needed to address the daily needs of Filipinos during and after this crisis. Aid alone will never be enough to solve the problems our country is facing),” Alcazar said.

“Ang mga kabataan ay mananatiling aktibo sa pag-iisip ng mga paraan upang makilahok at makibahagi na maibsan ang epekto ng krisis na ito subalit ang bayanihan ng mga kabataan ay may kasabay na paniningil ng pananagutan sa mga nagkasala sa bayan (The youth will remain active in finding ways to participate and contribute to easing the impact of this crisis, but their bayanihan spirit also carries a demand for accountability from those who have failed the nation),” he continued.