The city government of Davao has dispersed a community pantry at Quimpo Boulevard fronting SM City Davao on Monday for violating the minimum public health standards.
“Kaganiha duna ta’y gipa-disperse na isa ka community pantry. Gipa-pauli ang mga tao. Clearly ang organizer di siya kabalo pa unsa niya buhaton nga dili mag-violate sa minimum public health standards ang ilahang community pantry,” said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in a live broadcast interview with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.
Mayor Sara advised those individuals and groups planning to stage a community pantry to always coordinate with the barangay and the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) for crowd-control.
“Makaya ra na siya basta mag-coordinate sa mga enforcers especially sa barangay ug sa DCPO. If we cannot implement the public health standards especially on distancing unya daghan ang mga tao then ma-defeat ang atong purpose na makatabang ta ug mga tao kay most likely duna’y transmission sa ingon ani nga gathering. Ang secret ana is proper coordination,” she said.
The mayor added that issuing guidelines for organizers of community pantry is not yet necessary, however, requiring them a permit is being discussed and being referred to the City Legal Office.
“There was a discussion if permit is in order. We referred it pa to the City Legal Office kung kinahanglan pa ba nga ingon ana,” she said.
The mayor said organizers of community pantry must follow the same instructions given to the private groups and sectors last year who intend to distribute assistance to the community, which include proper coordination with the barangay and DCPO to manage the crowd.
“Last year naghatag ta ug advice sa mga gusto mag-distribute ug assistance sa communities they need to coordinate with our barangays especially sa atoang DCPO ug PSSSCC para matabangan sila sa pag-organize ug pag-control sa mga tao,” she said.
Community pantries are now surfacing in Davao City: Roxas Community Pantry along Roxas Avenue, Cabaguio, and Agdao.
