Organizer hopes community pantries will serve as wake-up call to gov't

Ana Patricia Non on Wednesday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to see the popularity of community pantry initiatives as a "wake-up call" to the government to see the current needs of Filipinos.

"President Duterte, nanawagan po ako na maging wake-up call na hindi po talaga sapat po ang kita ng mga Pilipino, ang ayuda po at tulong po," Non said in an ANC interview when asked about her message to the President.

(I call on President Duterte to look at the community pantry initiative as a wake-up call that people are not receiving enough income, financial aid, and help.)

"Sana po makita natin na hindi naman sila pipila kung hindi naman talaga kailangan at nararanasaan po siya sa buong bansa," she added.

(These people will not fall in line to get goods from the community pantry if they are not in need and this was experienced all over the country.)

Non, organizer of the Maginhawa Community Pantry in Quezon City,  said similar pantries sprouted in different places across the Philippines because people themselves have seen the needs of their neighbors.

Prior to giving her message to Duterte, Non reiterated that community pantries welcome everyone regardless of their religion, gender, or political affiliation.

She also clarified, in the same interview, that she has personal opinion about the government but that doesn’t “reflect” on her community pantry initiative.

"Ang opinion ko ay hindi para sa lahat ng pantries… so tingin ko hindi ito tungkol sa atin. ‘Yan din ang call ko sa media na [huwag] i-focus ang attention sa akin because it’s about the community at the end of the day, it’s about the people and ‘yung donors," Non said.

(My personal opinion is not the opinion of all pantries. This is not about me. That was also my call to the media. Do not focus on me because it's about the community, at the end of the day. It's about the people and the donors.)

Non's pantry suspended its operation on Tuesday after the alleged red-tagging by government security forces, after graphics posted on social media link such initiatives to the communist movement.

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr.  on Tuesday denied they are red-tagging individuals involved in the initiative but admitted that they are checking the background of the organizers.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has apologized to the community pantry organizers over its social media post.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, said the Duterte administration is supportive of the community pantry initiative and will not hamper its operations.

The Maginhawa Community Pantry resumed operations on Wednesday.  —KBK, GMA News