THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday called on local government units (LGUs) to ensure that minimum public health standards are strictly observed where community pantries have been set up, noting the outreach service has resulted to people flocking in areas where they are located.
In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said LGUs should ensure that the community pantries don’t turn into “super spreaders” of the COVID virus.
“LGUs need to guide the people how to ensure that the process won’t result to crowding of people in disregard of public health,” Vergeire said, even as she “recognized the effort of people to help others. That is very important especially with the current situation we are facing.”
Vergeire said the concept of the community helping families or individuals amid the COVID-19 pandemic can have positive effects on the public’s mental health.
“Seeing that others are ready to help are important to one’s mental wellness and in the confidence of our people,” she said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the emergence of community pantries exemplifies the best of the Filipinos and the bayanihan spirit, contrary to the claim of critics that it is a reflection of the government’s lack or insufficient action during the pandemic.
“This is a spontaneous movement amongst Filipinos. It’s part of our psyche to help one if there is a time of need. So, I don’t see that as a condemnation of the government, it simply shows the best in us during the worst of times,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
He said the community pantry compliments the P23 billion worth of cash aid being distributed by the government in addition to the family food packs that the DSWD has been distributing to some local government units (LGUs).
Last week, a community pantry was first established in Maginhawa Street in Quezon City, wherein people were encouraged to share goods that they can, while those in need are urged to get only what they need. The initiative has since been replicated in different parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday said P7.47 billion worth of cash aid has already been given to 7,470,149 individuals, or 32 percent of the targeted 22.9 million beneficiaries affected by the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed in the NCR Plus.
DSWD said the biggest amount of P4.67 billion was distributed in Metro Manila and benefited 4.67 million individuals, followed by the P2.121 billion that benefitted 2.141 million people from Cavite, Laguna and Rizal; and P658.177 million that benefitted 658,177 residents of Bulacan.
Metro Manila and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan (NCR plus) were under the ECQ from March 29 to April 11. They are now under the less strict modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Also yesterday, President Duterte approved a one-time P20,000 financial aid to employees compensation pensioners with permanent partial disability, permanent total disability and survivorship to ease the financial and health burden they are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President, in issuing Administrative Order 39, said the one-time cash aid will benefit more than 31,000 compensation pensioners of the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). — With Jocelyn Montemayor
