PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEMS THINKING

Translating Something into Systems Perspective

Assignment No. 4
Cruz, Angelica Michelle R. May 13, 2021
BSBA MM 3-2D Prof. Teresita Moneza
I. Listen or read news article, try to translate it into a systems perspective.

Food pantries spread in Philippines as COVID-19

restrictions bite
30 Apr 2021 11:36AM

MANILA: Community-run stalls offering free food to the needy have multiplied across
the Philippines, with many struggling to feed their families as COVID-19 restrictions bite
and government help falls short.

Street sweeper Juliet Reyes regularly picks up fruit and vegetables from a curbside food
pantry in the capital Manila, where a recent lockdown to contain a surge in infections
threw hundreds of thousands out of work.

"I'm very thankful. It's a big help for us who are most in need," said Reyes, 41, who
supports a family of eight on her meagre daily wage of 200 pesos (US$4).

"When I go home I will cook what I got today."

Patricia Non ignited the nationwide movement this month after parking a bamboo cart
stocked with rice, pasta, canned food and vegetables raided from her kitchen beside a
busy street.

A handwritten cardboard sign urged passers-by to "Give what you can, take what you
need".

As contributions flooded in and a few recipients turned into thousands queueing every
day - many lining up as soon as the night-time curfew lifted at 5am - Non's trolley
expanded into a distribution centre for other pantries.

"Many are in need and I have more than enough for myself at home," Non, 26, told
AFP.

"It's not a solution to hunger and poverty. But it's a stop-gap measure."
GOVERNMENT HELP "NOT ENOUGH"

Non's charitable act has inspired others - including police, churches and the Philippine
Coast Guard - to start their own pantries across the archipelago.

Photos posted on social media show tables laden with donated food set up on streets,
with people wearing masks and clutching reusable shopping bags waiting in line. Some
pantries offer free pet food.

The scenes of community solidarity have fuelled criticism of the government's response
to the poor after restrictions imposed to contain the virus devastated the economy and
left millions hungry.

In the latest lockdown of Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, which began at the
end of March, the national government offered a one-off payment of 1,000 pesos per
person, or 4,000 pesos for a family.

So far, only about two-thirds of the aid meant for nearly 23 million people has been
distributed.

President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque has praised the community
pantries for showing "the best of the Filipino in the worst of times".

But police have reportedly profiled volunteers and a spokesman for Duterte's anti-
communist task force even accused the movement of being rebel sympathisers and
doing the devil's work.

"I'm not saying they're doing nothing, but I really think it's not enough, especially since
there's a budget for it," Non said of the government's efforts.

"The community pantry concept would not go wild if there's no need for it."

Source: AFP/zl

II. Take events reported in the news and try to trace out an underlying pattern that is at
work.

 Linear Thinking – Based on the news article above, as COVID-19 restrictions bite
and government help falls short, many people are having a hard time to feed and
provide for their families. Because of this, a citizen named Patricia Non started
doing a community pantry as a help for the needy which has inspired others
 - including police, churches and the Philippine Coast Guard - to start their own
pantries across the archipelago.
 Systems Thinking – Because of the charitable that has been ignited by Patricia
Non, non-privileged people are able to feed their families with the available food
and ingredients provided in every community pantries.
 Convergent Problems – Initiating charitable acts like the community is a great
solution to help the needy as the Government help isn’t enough to provide for the
Filipino families even when there’s allotted budget for it. As what Patricia Non
stated, “the community pantry would not go wild if there’s no need for it.”

III. Check whether it fits one of the elements or characteristics of the language of
systems thinking.

 Embodies a Worldview – Looking at the community pantry concept with a

worldview, the idea behind the it was that people could take as much as they
need and donate whatever they can. What Non believed was a necessary act of
help cascaded into a social solidarity that spans a nation. She strongly argued
against the glamourized narrative that the community pantry movement
represents Filipino resiliency, but rather evidence of response and unity born out
of necessity.

IV. Check whether it fits one of the laws or if it is perhaps a combination of several laws.

 Today’s Problems Come from Yesterday’s Solution – I believe that the one who’s
really responsible as to why the number of COVID-19 patients keeps on rising
every day, is the Government. If they have just prioritized making plans as to how
to make our country COVID-free instead of doing unnecessary things like the
beautification of Manila Bay, Filipinos wouldn’t have to suffer for so long.
Community pantries fill the gaps in the way the Duterte Administration is
addressing the problems of unemployment and hunger. Little to no financial
assistance has been given to the country’s poor who have been struggling to
 stay alive all throughout this protracted lockdown. As Senator Francis Pangilinan
said, the community project serves as a sad reminder that people can only rely
on each other in times of need. Senator Richard Gordon remarked that the
government is put to shame because private citizens are doing what it should be
doing.

V. Then try to sketch out a causal loop or two that captures the structure producing that
pattern.

COVID - 19 Government’s
Incompetence

Government Unemployed and

accused the Under-privileged
movement of being families are
rebel sympathisers suffering.

Community
Solidarity
(Community
Pantry)