Abellanosa: Pantries and politicians

Abellanosa: Pantries and politicians

ANYONE who would still argue against the contribution of community pantries is plainly insensitive. This is not to say that there are no more areas to improve on the part of its organizers. However, the discussion should focus on the main issue, which is "making food accessible" instead of the logistical considerations, which are basically secondary in importance. Anyone who claims to love and care for the people in this country should be worried about their hunger.

A more important realization from the phenomenon is the fact that not everything in this country needs direct government intervention for communities to thrive. This is another way of saying that in some aspects of our lives, things can run better without politicians. That, further, the bitter truth is, we have been made to believe that we should rely on politicians when sometimes their presence prevents us from expediting things.

This is not to say that government is needed because no matter what there is a need for regulation in any form of social organization. But perhaps we have overemphasized the role of the government even in matters where people can achieve certain things without creating bureaucracies. This is where some critics of the pantries are somewhat wrong in their assumption, especially those who insist on "permits" and the need for deeper scrutiny in the intentions behind the phenomenon.

The problem with some critics of the community pantries is that they try to appear "concerned" with the welfare of the crowd. However, this gesture cannot but be subject to suspicion because we never heard of this "concern" when senior citizens were made to gather in many barangay halls or centers across the country in order to get their "ayuda." It is not the content of the message but the inconsistency in their principle that makes us doubt the integrity of these critics.

Critics of the community pantries will be worth our time if we would also hear from them suggest to our beloved administration how we can, as a country, solve the problem of food distribution. The current situation reveals that the scarcity of "food" is not the issue but the way they are distributed. In simple terms therefore, many of our politicians have not done "good enough" to address hunger beyond their traditional posturing.

And because I am not yet done with the critics, let it be advised that they do an examination of conscience. It should be one that would honestly ask themselves whether their hate for those who thought of these initiatives does not stem from their irrational loyalty to the candidates they voted for last elections. If this is the case, there really is no point seeking out to dialogue with people of this kind because one would not get anything comprehensible from people whose arguments are not unified by logic.

As for the government, it should be happy that people are trying their best to help those who are in need. The best thing that it can do is to exercise its power in order to accomplish things which people in their own ordinary capacity cannot achieve. Based on the principle of "subsidiarity" -- the government can better function if it will provide the greater means and facilities that will capacitate people to help themselves. Instead of being too constricting because of its personal agenda, those in power better created additional roads so that agricultural products can move faster from the farms to the markets.

Availability of transportation is another thing which the government can allocate for a bigger budget. On a related note, the suggestion of the NCR mayors for the pantry organizers to coordinate with LGU is fine. However, it is only so -- on the condition that local politicians will not use the people's initiative and kindness as part of their pre-election marketing.

Reading the current situation can be depressing because on one hand there are potentials and goodness in this growing phenomenon but on the other hand, there are authorities who are so insecure with their power that any form of initiative is always considered a threat to their future political plans and career.

For those who use their power to retain their interest even at the expense of others, may the good Lord bless their soul and save them from the fires of hell.

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