Electric cooperatives (ECs) nationwide have set up community pantries in their respective coverage areas to help their member-consumer-owners (MCOs) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) said the initiative was inspired by the first community pantry along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City.
This was not the first time the electric coops took a role in collective efforts towards mitigating the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marginalized sector.
“This is a gesture of solidarity with the nation as we battle and rise against COVID-19 together,” PHILRECA Executive Director and General Manager, Atty. Janeene Depay-Colingan said.
The opening of the “MCO Community Pantry” was held simultaneously nationwide by the ECs on Wednesday, April 28, in cooperation with PHILRECA, One EC Network Foundation, and One EC-MCO Movement.
Community pantries have popped up in Metro Manila and in various provinces across the country. These were inspired by the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City that became a social media sensation.
This was not the first time the electric coops took a role in collective efforts towards mitigating the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marginalized sector.
It will be recalled that PHILRECA also initiated the Pantawid Liwanag program with the National Association of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (NAGMEC ), supported by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
The Pantawid Liwanag, a corporate social responsibility program that provided electricity bill subsidy, benefited over 3 million marginalized consumers of electric coops nationwide.