More Catholic schools open doors to homeless, COVID-19 frontliners

More Catholic schools open doors to homeless, COVID-19 frontliners

By CBCP News

March 26, 2020

Manila, Philippines

More Catholic schools have opened their doors as temporary shelters for the homeless people and frontliners in the battle against coronavirus.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Manila’s apostolic administrator, three more parochial schools in the archdiocese have opened their facilities for the street dwellers.

He said these include the Malate Catholic School, Espiritu Santo Parochial School and the Holy Trinity Academy.

As the pandemic continues, he said that the homeless can take refuge in the schools, especially during the enhance community quarantine period.

The Nazarene Catholic School, according to him, will also accommodate the healthcare workers from San Lazaro Hospital.

“We assure you and our students that we take all necessary precaution to prevent the spread of the virus,” Pabillo said.

“We strictly follow the requirements of the Department of Health and the World Health Organization,” he assured.

The bishop said that the SVD-run Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center is coordinating the transfer of the homeless to their schools “where they can be taken care of”.

“The center and its volunteers provide for the the basic needs of those who are taking shelter at the said schools,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Paco Catholic School also accommodated several homeless families under the care of Fr. Luke Mortgart.

“We laud this gesture of our school directors to provide quarters to the homeless and street dwellers, and health workers where they can be safe and secure,” Pabillo said.

Dozens of homeless people have erlier sought refuge at the campuses of the De La Salle University, its sister school College of Saint Benilde, and the St. Scholastica’s College.