Religious groups, churches offer temporary shelter for COVID-19 frontliners

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31)— Several religious groups and churches in the metro have offered to transform their facilities into temporary shelters for frontliners battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Christian church Victory on Tuesday said its Bonifacio Global City building will start accommodating healthcare workers serving the St. Luke’s Medical Center BGC as well as the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig.

“One of the ways we can serve and do our small part is to provide them with food and shelter,” Victory said in a statement. “We are collaborating with these hospitals to make room for those who need it the most.”

Apart from sleeping spaces, Victory’s facility also offers basic amenities such as pillows, blankets, and slippers.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia in Ermita, Manila will also open its doors to 33 medical frontliners at the Manila Doctors Hospital.

The Archdiocese of Manila said its other member-parishes are also expected to soon accommodate nearby healthworkers. Bp. Broderick Pabillo, Apostolic Administrator, has instructed to turn all available facilities into temporary shelters.

Here’s the list of other religious institutions offering shelters for frontliners:

St. Mary College (Diliman, Quezon City)

St. Anthony's Shrine (Sampaloc, Manila)

Convent of the Holy Spirit (Quezon City)

Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Convent (Pandacan, Manila)

St. John Bosco Parish (Makati)

The Christ's Commission Fellowship said it is also coordinating with a nearby hospital and planning the possible move to house its medical personnel.