By Leslie Ann Aquino
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, has instructed priests for all available facilities to be made into temporary accommodations for the medical personnel in response to the Covid crisis.
Broderick Pabillo (Twitter | Manila Bulletin)
He said that while there are now more parishes and religious houses opening their facilities, the need for accomodation is still piling. "Now not only doctors and nurses are in need of lodging, but also hospital maintenance people and orderlies. Either they cannot get home or there is no physical distancing in their homes," said Pabillo in an article posted in the website of the archdiocese.
"Can parishes clean up their meeting halls and other unused spaces and offer them for night lodging—with proper physical distancing?” he asked. Bishop Pabillo also requested for parishes to help transport the medical personnel and auxiliary to and from their hospital assignments. “You can also offer your vans to shuttle the health frontliners. They are so grateful that they can find welcome and safe haven in our churches.” he said.
The prelate also put into the attention of the Archdiocese the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who have returned from abroad and have become persons under monitoring (PUM) after possible exposure to COVID-19.
The Ministry for Migrants, headed by Fr. Tem Fabros, was tapped to spearhead the initiative for the OFW. The Bishop also tapped religious congregations within the Archdiocese to assist in ministering the needs of those who are at risk and those who are involved in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.