ORGANIZERS of community pantries in the National Capital Region should have prior coordination of their activities with their respective local government units in order to ensure the proper observance of COVID-19 protocols

By virtue of Resolution NO. 21-08 Series of 2021, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) underscored the importance of sustaining the downward trend two-week growth rate (TWGR) of COVID-19, which according to the Department of Health, lowered down to -5% within the period of March 21 to April 17 from 164% for the period February 28 to March 27.

“While the organizers of community pantries exemplify collective charity and concern for the plight of the underprivileged and are truly worthy of emulation, support, and praise, the primordial minimum public health standards under the prevailing community quarantine must remain paramount,” the resolution stated.

“The sacrifices endured and gains accumulated during the ECQ and MECQ must not be put to waste by a disregard of the prohibition on mass gatherings, observance of social distancing, and the wearing of face masks and face shields.”

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos, who is also the concurrent chair of the MMC, said advance coordination would allow LGUs to set up measures to ensure the observance of physical distancing and other public health protocols in community pantries.

Also, community pantries’ adherence to the prevailing health guidelines is also part of the Filipino bayanihan spirit that it is promoting, the MMDA Chairman said.

“As the community pantries intend to extend assistance to our kababayans, let us be reminded that aside from giving food at this time, one of the noblest kind of help is making sure that they are not at risk of acquiring the virus which, at worst, can cost their lives,” Abalos stressed.

Abalos also reminded individuals aged 17 below and senior citizens aged 65 and older to stay at home, in accordance with the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

The resolution was unanimously approved by all the local chief executives of Metro Manila on Friday, April 23.

The MMC, composed of the 17 Metro Manila mayors, is the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Edd Reyes