The lack of properly executed plan, or just a plan per se from the government during this long overdue lockdown had left the people of the country to fend for themselves and to survive amidst another season of ECQ. With the surge of 10,000+ cases per day, we were forced to revert back to the stricter level of the variously named lockdown protocols — ECQ, MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ, and many more terminologies that had left the people in confusion. With the implementation of a stricter protocols, people were forced again to loose their job and close their business. Curfew hours were executed once more — not that it would really help in decreasing the number of cases.
People were expected to be given an "Ayuda" for those who cannot work while the ongoing ECQ, but the tiresome and burdensome process left some of those in need with nothing and the fact that rampant corruption is happening, leaves no assistance and help to the poor. The helpless situation we are in that was lead by the administration forced the people to create Community Pantries.
"Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, Kumuha batay sa kailangan"
People were given hope by the act done by Ana Patricia Non, the first person to establish a Community Pantry in Maginhawa, Quezon City. Soon, people from other barangays and cities took inspiration and did their own community pantry at their local areas. Community pantries helped those who are in need especially the poor who are left with nothing amidst the lockdown and pandemic. Despite the lack of effort shown by the government to help their people, there are still individuals who have shown empathy towards others. It only shows that the Bayanihan culture of Filipinos still exists.
But regardless of the community’s effort to fill in the incompetence of the administration, there are still those who use this action to push their political agendas. LGUs who use these pantries to establish their names to the people, and there are those who have bigger political agendas. Last Tuesday, Non posted on her social media account that she will be temporarily shutting down the community pantry in Maginhawa, Quezon City due to the military’s malicious accusation. She also asked for help to Mayor Joy Belmonte because of the threat she was given by the police who came by their pantry asking for her number and her affiliation to any organizations.
The Community Pantry that was established because of the lack of help from the government, now being interfered by the government themselves deploying military personnel to check the background of these pantries. In spite of the people’s good effort and intention, the government forces to antagonize the idea of helping the poor by Red-Tagging them. Conspiracy theory that CPP-NPA organizations were behind these pantries done by pro-government agencies led by NTF-ELCAC.
Red-Tagging of individuals have long been an issue ever since the regime of Duterte and despite the main conflicts to ease the burden brought by the pandemic, his “excellency” never fails to badmouth terrorist and activists on his inconsistent scheduled talks every night. The obsession of the President to associate everyone with leftists organization left the people of this country to drown and divert on important issues.
A little bit of history lesson goes a long way, why leftists group exists. Centuries of abuse and exploitation by the ruling class led them to the place where they are now, and the failure of the Duterte administration is not an exception. Moreover, the Community Pantry issue shows the fragile macho-feudal system of the administration. Why should there be a need for military presence on these community pantries? What threat does the poor people looking for food brings? The real threat occurs on the West Philippine Sea, where our territory is being compromised while the administration continues on failing to protect.
The marginalized people are not the enemy of the state but the continuous attacks by the administration says otherwise, the continuous Red-Tagging and killing of individuals due to the President's obsession. The government continues to amaze us that we haven't still hit rock-bottom. Despite the helping hands of those who can to the poor, the government sees this as a threat. If they are so easily scared of these threats then why don't they create a proper plan and action to help the people? Because the people doesn't want another number of dead, the people needs something to rely on to survive amidst crisis and it is the government's number one job to to so.
Illustration by: Jude Pevin Camba
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