DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reminded community pantry organizers to properly coordinate with local authorities after the City ordered the dispersal of one pantry due to difficulty in implementing the physical distancing protocol given the large number of Dabawenyos who visited the area.
Duterte-Carpio said on Monday, April 26, that the City Government ordered for the dispersal of the crowd of a community pantry along Quimpo Boulevard after organizers struggled to control the influx of crowds.
"Clearly, the organizer, di siya kabalo paunsa niya buhaton nga dili mag-violate og (did not have the strategy to conduct the activity without violating) minimum public health standard ila (in their) community pantry. Gi-advisan sila to stop it [and] paulion mga tao (We advised them to stop, and ask people to go home)," the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The mayor added that organizers were advised to plan how they will go about it, and reopen the next day with concrete plans on how they will be able to implement the minimum health protocols.
The Matina Community Pantry confirmed in a Facebook post that they suspended its operations Monday, April 26.
"The police, barangay tanods and the Matina Community Pantry have agreed on additional measures to be implemented tomorrow (April 27) for the distribution to be more efficient, orderly and quick, especially with regard to the implementation of physical distancing," the organizers announced on Monday afternoon, April 26.
The Matina Pantry apologized "due to our crowd management limitations."
They said they were only able to serve 350 persons and that many more were unserved.
"Ang pinakaimportante aning community pantries nato (What is important is that our community pantries), since people line up, number one dapat naa gyud distancing dinha, and masunod kanunay ang distancing, dili lang sa sugod lang. Dapat consistent ang implementation sa distancing (there must be consistency in the observance of physical distancing, not only from the start)," she said.
She added that non-observance of distancing and health protocol can possibly result in wide transmission of the coronavirus.
The mayor reiterated the need to coordinate with the barangay and the Davao City Public Safety or Security Command Center (PSSCC) or to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to help them organize and crowd control.
Duterte-Carpio said it is the same advice that they give to those who wanted to give and distribute food and other assistance directly in the community.
The mayor already consulted the City Legal Office if there is a need for organizers to secure permits.
Duterte-Carpio, in a previous interview, said the City Government will monitor various community pantries in the city to check if Covid-19 minimum health protocols are strictly observed.
"Kung wala nama'y violation sa mga (If there is no committed violation in the) Covid-19 protocols, we do not have a problem with that," the mayor said.
This came after various community pantries were formed by various sectors after being inspired by the Maginhawa Community Pantry in Quezon City.
The concept of the pantry aims to help less fortunate and encourage others to donate and share their blessings.
Department of the Interior and Local Government-Davao Director Alex Roldan clarified that requiring permits are unnecessary, and urged local government units to devise their own policy for community pantry organizers to ensure that health protocols, and the food donated are safe for consumption.