Coordination, not permit needed in community pantries: ARTA chief

MANILA – Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) director general Jeremiah Belgica said permits are not needed in establishing community pantries but these initiatives should be coordinated with their respective barangay. 

Belgica visited the community pantries in Quezon City Tuesday to remind barangay officials and community pantry organizers that permit is not required in putting up such an initiative. 

But he urged organizers to coordinate with their barangay to ensure order in the community pantries such as physical distancing and other minimum health protocols amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. 

“Ang hinihingi siguro natin sa mga barangay officials, suportahan natin ang mga ganitong inisyatibo. Ito talaga ang gusto ng Pangulo (What we are asking from our barangay officials is to support this kind of initiatives. This is really what the President wants),” he added. 

In a television interview Tuesday, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Martin Diño said organizers should now secure a permit from the local government since there have been violations of public health protocols observed in some community pantries. 

Belgica said he already talked with DILG Secretary Eduardo Año and Diño to remind them that permits are not needed for such an initiative, but coordination with the barangay to assist them implement minimum health standards. 

“We’re just clarifying na hindi siguro permit kasi wala rin ito sa citizen charter ng barangay. (We’re just clarifying that permit is not needed because it’s not in the citizen charter of the barangay),” he said. 

He added Diño’s pronouncement in the media interview early this day might be a “misstatement”. 

Meanwhile, the ARTA chief said this initiative of organizing community pantries should not be politicized amid reports of red-tagging some community pantries. 

“We really need to do our part. This is very inspiring. Huwag na lang din po nating pulitikahin (Let’s not politicize it),” Belgica said.