Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18) — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday expressed hope that more “community pantries” will spring up to help hungry Filipinos in the throes of a pandemic, which pushed the country into recession and left millions jobless.
“Napakalaking bagay na may community pantry kasi parang sinisiguro mo na walang tao sa community mo na magugutom,” she said in her weekly radio show BISErbisyong LENI.
[Translation: Having a community pantry is a big thing because it ensures that no one in the community will go hungry.]
“Napakagandang proyekto na sana tularan ng marami pa nating mga kababayan,” she added.
[Translation: It is a great project which I hope many of our fellow Filipinos will emulate.]
Social media has recently been flooded with posts of community pantries where residents can donate basic goods for others who have a hard time putting food on the table.
The movement, which first popped up along Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, became a hit with other areas in Metro Manila and other regions rolling out the same initiative. The Maginhawa pantry was set up by small business owner Ana Patricia Non.
READ: Community pantries pop up in NCR cities, other regions amid COVID-19 crisis
