Belmonte says politicians shouldn't hostage community pantry initiatives

Politicians should not hostage the efforts of community pantries that sprouted across the country to help those badly-hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

"We are not supposed to hostage their project. I do not like that to happen. I don't think politicians should put their name in a project that they did not start. We are here to support this very laudable project, at this point," Belmonte said in an episode of The Mangahas Interviews.

She said politicians should not intervene with the volunteerism of initiators of the community pantry.

"Because minsan 'pag nakikialam ang mga politiko, nawawala 'yung napakaganda, napakadalisay na adhikain ng community pantry (When politicians meddle, the beautiful and pure intention of a community pantry loses its meaning). I would like them to be spontaneous. I love to be inspired by these young people, even middle-aged people go out of their way to make little sacrifices to benefit the common good," she told veteran journalist Malou Mangahas.

However, if community pantry organizers need help in case of donor fatigue, Belmonte said the local government is willing to coordinate with them.

"At some point, they will be needing government intervention kasi hindi nila kaya lahat at siguro that is the time we step in," said Belmonte.

(They will need government intervention because they can't do everything on their own.)

"When it's time to talk siguro kung nagkakaroon ng donor fatigue, or kung nandiyan pa rin ang pangangailangan, usap tayo magpartner tayo," she further pointed out.

(In case of donor fatigue, if they need anything  that's the time that we can coordinate with them.)

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday reminded that permits are not necessary for those who will build community pantries. Several local governments in the metropolis also said they will not require special permits for pantry organizers.—AOL, GMA News