Senator Win Gatchalian appealed to local and other government officials to spare the now growing number of community pantries from being tainted by politics and said that this kind of initiative should encourage more participants from the private sector.
For the senator, the idea of a community pantry ignites the modern-day bayanihan spirit and instills discipline among the beneficiaries in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Para sa akin, dalawa ang sinisimbolo nito. Simbolo ito ng pagkakawanggawa at disiplina ng mga kababayan natin na huwag tayong kumuha ng labis. Magtira tayo para sa iba rin na nangangailangan,” said Gatchalian.
“Hindi dapat ginagawa itong negative political weapon. Ang mga ganitong klaseng noble effort ay mas maganda kung manatiling nasa pribadong kamay para walang pulitika, walang kulay. Mawawala ‘yung spirit of volunteerism, pagtutulungan na nakikita natin ngayon, at ang pagkakawanggawa para sa mahihirap nating kababayan,” he added.
Donating goods to the community pantries should encourage more potential donors to do their share in alleviating the plight of those in dire need of their daily food supply in the metropolis and other areas in the country, according to Gatchalian.
“Kailangan din naman na ma-sustain ang ganitong napakagandang inisyatibo, isang maliit na kakayahan na maraming natutulungan kaya kailangan ng mas marami pang magdo-donate,” he emphasized.
The senator said the emergence of this kind of initiative should be gleaned as willingness on the part of the civilians and the private sector to lend a hand to the government in coming to the aid of those in need.
