Published April 24, 2021, 3:30 PM
One of the heart-warming scenes witnessed by community pantry organizers in Marikina City was seeing tears of joy from people who can hardly make ends meet amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drawing inspiration from the Maginahawa Community Pantry, a group of young professionals in Marikina City came together for a noble cause to build a community pantry for those who can no longer put food on their plates.
Cedric John Moneda, a web developer, and his friends Peter Ortiz, RJ Fe Guzman, and Shekinah Argudo started the Marikina Community Pantry located in Barangay Marikina Heights. All of them are in their 20’s.
Hontiveros files resolution condemning harassment, red-tagging against community pantry organizers
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday filed a resolution condemning the acts of harassment, red-tagging and intimidation by national government officials and law enforcement authorities against private citizens conducting community pantries.
According to the Resolution, These heavy-handed tactics by State agents against community pantries are not just undemocratic, they also punish Filipinos who are already suffering because of the pandemic and who desperately need the lifeline extended by these community pantries.
Proposed
Senate Resolution No. 705 authored by Hontiveros also urges the executive branch to ensure the safety and protection of community pantry organizers inasmuch as they provide an invaluable service to communities in these times.
Privacy body calls on PNP to look into alleged profiling of community pantry organizers By TED CORDERO, GMA News
Published April 20, 2021 11:00am The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Tuesday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to look into reports of alleged profiling of organizers of community pantries. This, after Anna Patricia Non, the organizer of Maginahawa Community Pantry in Quezon City, said they would temporarily halt their operation for the safety of their volunteers amid the alleged red-tagging. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has allegedly posted graphics on its Facebook page linking community pantry initiatives to the communist movement. The Quezon City Police District has also posted a similar graphic on its Facebook page.