OCTA in ‘full support’ of community pantries, clarifies member never said they delay case decline

The OCTA Research group on Wednesday clarified a statement attributed to one of its fellows on the supposed link between community pantries and a "delay" in the decline of COVID-19 cases.

The independent team of experts said its member, Dr. Guido David, did not make the claim that the decline of COVID-19 cases was delayed by the sprouting of community pantries across the country.

“OCTA wishes to clarify that these reports are false and misleading. OCTA research and its fellows did not make any such unsubstantiated claims in [the] media,” the group said in a statement.

OCTA also expressed “full support” for community pantries, which gained popularity as several groups and individuals sought to help those struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We laud these civic initiatives and strongly urge the public to continue to support these initiatives,” the group said.

“We also encourage the organizers of the community pantries all around the country to help ensure that minimum health protocols are sustained in the various projects they are organizing in communities all around the country,” it added.

The Department of Health earlier urged local authorities to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 through community pantries. 

The organizers of the Maginhawa community pantry have also said that their system will be decentralized for a more organized and efficient distribution of goods.  — BM, GMA News