MANILA — According to organizer Patricia Non, who spearheaded the same initiative that encouraged others to follow suit during the COVID pandemic, volunteers in Metro Manila and other provinces are setting up community pantries for public transportation drivers, who are among those most severely impacted by rising fuel prices due to the Middle East war.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency as a result of the oil crisis brought on by the US-Israeli war with Iran, which caused the price of petroleum goods in the Philippines to reach all-time highs.

In order to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of diesel, many transport drivers have been compelled to work longer hours in order to make ends meet, even while the government provides them with financial assistance.

In an effort to demand that the government address the issue more effectively, some of them have also joined transport strikes.

In response to the scenario, Non told ABS-CBN News over the phone on Thursday that community volunteers, including mothers, students, and workers, have established or want to establish pantries for food delivery riders and struggling drivers in Quezon City, Pasig, Marikina, and Valenzuela.

Community pantries encourage people to contribute any food items and advise those in need to get just enough goods.

Additionally, volunteer Ermarie Fortuno and her group posted on Facebook about the establishment of a community pantry in Barangay Biga, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

As the energy crisis worsened, Non and other volunteers considered reviving community pantries, she said, adding that their goal was to call for accountability and inspire others to follow suit.

In order to serve drivers and make it easy for commuters to drop off donations, she pushed other organizations to establish community pantries near transportation terminals.

During the COVID pandemic in 2021, Non established a community pantry along Maginhawa Street with a small bamboo cart that was primarily packed with food items. This initiative inspired other volunteers to construct their own pantries to aid the underprivileged.

Lockdowns imposed by the government to stop a fatal epidemic at the time prompted many Filipinos, including drivers of public utilities, to stop working.