Officials of Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, said Saturday, April 24, that they did not allow the setting up of community pantries in their village because of the increasing COVID-19 cases in the area.
A statement from the Barangay Mandalagan Council members said “we sincerely welcome the establishment of community pantries in our humble barangay. We truly commend and appreciate these acts of kindness and generosity from our beloved constituents especially now that we are in a very challenging situation. It is our pride and honor that we can be able to embody and epitomize the real essence of Bayanihan in Barangay Mandalagan.”
However, because of the increasing number of active COVID-19 cases in the barangay, they have decided to impose a moratorium or temporary suspension on the organization of community pantries.
“It does not mean that we prohibit such a noble activity as opposed to what is now being circulated in the social media,” the barangay officials stressed.
“We humbly call for the kindest understanding and cooperation of the people of Brgy. Mandalagan to please abide by this temporary suspension of having community pantries. We are doing this for your own sake. Let us continue to observe and follow our minimum health protocols,” they said.
Last week, the COVID Warriors of Negros, that have established community pantries in different areas in the city, said they could not go ahead with the community pantry in Barangay Mandalagan since they were not allowed by the village officials to hold the activity.
The community pantries, an initiative of private citizens to helps those in need, continue to sprout in Bacolod and Negros Occidental.*