Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged organizers of community-based and private sector-driven initiatives such as community pantries to remain focused on their objective of helping those in need in the spirit of bayanihan. He warned them of certain groups who may be taking advantage of their benevolent efforts to push their vested interests or political agenda.

“Maganda na inisyatibo ang community pantry. Pwede naman ito gawin nang tahimik, wala nang propaganda. Huwag na po [sanang] sakyan ng kung anu-anong organisasyon. Maganda ang layunin nung una, nung pumasok na ang iba’t ibang grupo ay pinasukan na ng propaganda at doon nagkagulo,” said Go.

“Maganda ang inisyatibo. Huwag niyo lang haluan ng pulitika o iba’t ibang grupo na [gagamitin ito bilang] propaganda para sa kanilang interes,” he cautioned.

The Senator, who serves as vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, once more called on government to intensify its ongoing efforts to help Filipinos struggling with food insecurity and joblessness. Go earlier issued an appeal urging the Executive branch to initiate the Supplemental Amelioration Program for the low-income residents in National Capital Region Plus areas.

Go noted that while government is doing its best to help those in need, a whole-of-nation approach is necessary to overcome these trying times. He further encouraged those with the means to continue to contribute their resources and help others in their community.

“Sa totoo lang, sobra-sobra ang pagkain sa iba. Tingnan niyo ang bakuran ninyo, ang mga cabinet ninyo. Minsan na-eexpire ang mga delata. Ibigay niyo na lang. Kung kulang ang pagkain ninyo, kumuha kayo sa community pantry,” said the Senator.

“Wala pong kulay dapat. Walang pula, puti, dilaw, asul. Walang kulay pulitika. Walang pinipili [dapat ang pagtulong] lalo na sa panahon ngayon na kailangan ng ating kapwa Pilipino [ng tulong],” he added.

The Senator even urged government workers, particularly those from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police under the leadership of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzena and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, respectively, to support community pantries in their respective neighborhoods and ensure that these are conducted in a safe and orderly manner.

“Hinikayat ko ang AFP at PNP na tumulong na rin. Mayro’n na rin silang community pantry. Nag-agree si Secretary Año at Lorenzana na tumulong [at magbigay ng] sobra nilang kagamitan. Maraming may kakayanan diyan na gusto magbigay,” shared Go.

On this note, he reminded the public to strictly adhere to necessary health and safety protocols to avoid the further spread of COVID-19 in their communities.

“We have to follow the health protocols. Mas malaki ang problema natin kapag nagkahawaan diyan … that is why I am encouraging local government units and the police to enforce law and order sa lugar kung saan inilalagay ang community pantry. Tumulong kayo na ‘di ma-violate ang health protocols,” said Go.

Go earlier stressed the importance of cooperating with authorities and abiding by the necessary health and safety protocols in order to ensure that the goals of such activities are met while the rights and welfare of the general population are equally protected.

“Pinoproteksyunan po ng gobyerno ang karapatan ninyo na magsagawa ng sarili ninyong inisyatibo para makatulong sa inyong komunidad. Pero intindihin rin sana natin na ginagampanan rin ng gobyerno ang kanyang tungkulin, ayon sa ating mga batas, na proteksyunan rin ang bawat tao mula sa kapahamakan dahil bawat buhay ng Pilipino ay importante sa labang ito,” Go earlier said.

“Huwag tayo magkanya-kanya. Lahat naman tayo nais makatulong. Kung magkakanya-kanya tayo, mas mailalagay sa peligro ang kapwa natin. Huwag natin sayangin ang magandang hangarin ng inyong mga inisyatibo dahil lamang sa pagkakaiba natin ng pananaw sa pulitika,” appealed Go.

“Hindi po ito panahon para magsisihan, magsiraan, o maglamangan pa. Panahon po ito ng pagtutulungan, pagmamalasakit, at pakikiisa sa bayanihan,” he reminded.