Bgy chiefs to halt community pantries if protocols breached
SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija — Barangay captains monitoring the ongoing activities of community pantries in the town are ordered to immediately stop these from operating if health and safety protocols such as social distancing and proper wearing of face masks are violated.
Mayor Arvin C. Salonga issued this directive to barangay officials by way of an executive order dated April 26, 2021, giving them the authority with the assistance of the local police in strictly implementing the health protocols.
Salonga said barangay officials must ensure that no overcrowding will take place during the community pantry’s distribution activity.
More importantly, the mayor said community pantry organizers must have prior notification from the barangay captains concerned where these activities are taking place.
“The establishment of community pantries is now a global trend and in some cases, overcrowding of people occur during the activity, resulting in commotions, in injuries or even deaths, totally defeating the idea of social distancing,” said Salonga.
“Such being the case, there is a need to prescribe some requirements in order to ensure orderliness and prevention of further spread of COVID-19,” the mayor added.
Salonga noted he fully supports this kind of endeavor as it exemplifies the innate goodness and generosity in every Filipino especially in times of crisis during this pandemic.
“Kahit ako nag-contribute din dito sa community pantry sa amin, sapagkat iba ang feeling, masarap ang pakiramdam kapag nakatulong ka sa kapuwa mo, lalo na sa mga nangangailangan,” Salonga said.
“Isantabi muna natin ang kulay at pulitika at di pagkakaunawaan at yakapin itong diwa ng pagtutulungan at pakikiisa sa pamamagitan ng community pantry,” he added.
