Community pantry operations ‘limited’ by gov’t policies

MANILA, Philippines – Ana Patricia Non, the initiator of Community Pantry PH, called on the government to address long-term problems in agriculture and systemic gaps in social welfare — problems that have made helping people difficult.

Non enumerated the long-term problems hounding farmers during a Senate hearing on the impact of the oil crisis on agriculture and fisheries, on Wednesday, April 8.

According to the community pantry organizer, they have encountered problems in the application of public solicitation permits (under the purview of the Department of Social Welfare and Development), limited intercity operations, and “vegetable cartels” that threaten the safety and profits of farmers.

“Madali lang po sa ‘ming tumulong, medyo na-li-limit lang po kami sa policies natin,” Non said. (It’s easy for us to help, but we’re limited by our current policies.)

The DSWD requires public solicitation permits from individuals, corporations, or organizations to make sure these are not illegal fund drives and “to protect the general public from unscrupulous solicitation.”

Non said issues encountered by farmers are not new, only exacerbated by the oil crisis.

“Para po sa ‘min, long-term na problema na ng food system ‘yung nalulugi lagi ang magsasaka,” she said. (For us, farmers who operate at a loss has been a long-term problem in our food system.)

The community pantry, which started during the pandemic, has returned this time to help drivers affected by the oil price hikes. Non spoke at a Senate hearing where concerned groups and the private sector have emphasized how the oil crisis has paralyzed fishers and farmers’ livelihoods.

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The Department of Agriculture earlier enumerated the available interventions for affected agricultural sectors, including fuel subsidies as well as a proposal to allot P7 billion from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to distribute cash assistance to more than 2.6 million rice farmers.

Non emphasized that social aid (ayuda) remains a Bandaid solution and that these sectors can do their job if food is made readily available.

“Para po sa ‘min, ‘yung mga jeepney drivers, farmers, fisherfolks hindi lang po sila basta passive recipients ng ayuda,” she said. (For us, jeepney drivers, farmers, fisherfolks are not just passive recipients of ayuda.) – Rappler.com