Organizers of community pantries should secure a permit from local authorities first, an official from the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Tuesday.
“I think now they need a permit from the mayor or the barangay,” DILG undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño said in an interview in ANC.
“Meron tayong protocol na sinusunod, social distancing. Kaya lahat ng nagdodonate ngayon kino-course through natin sa proper authority,” he pointed out.
Diño noted that barangay officials are concerned that they will face charges since mass gathering may occur in community pantries.
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He also advised organizers to coordinate with local authorities in advance to ensure that minimum public health standards are in place.
“Maganda yan kaya lang wag sana maging simula ng pagkahawa-hawa.”
Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año clarified Diño’s statement saying that organizers should only consult with the concerned barangays if a permit is required.
Año stressed that the LGUs, barangays, and the PNP are ready to provide utmost assistance to ensure orderly distribution to the public.
“The PNP and/or local officials may just come in if there is any violation of law, if there are complaints from the community, or if the organizers seek their help,” he said.
He also denied that he ordered the PNP to look into the community pantries around the country.
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“As long as the intention is good and without political color, it should be encouraged and supported,” he said.
“Since this is a purely voluntary and private initiative, we should not interfere except to ensure that minimum health standards are complied with,” he furthered.
Some community pantries encountered problems with local authorities and police over allegations that organizers are members of leftist groups.
The Maginhawa Community Pantry in Quezon City temporarily ceased their operations due to ‘red-tagging’. ‘Red-tagging’ insinuates that a person, group, or initiative is critical and/or not supportive of the actions of the current government administration. (RA)
