HomeNewsChurches in Philippine capital open doors to provide aid to needy during...

Churches in Philippine capital open doors to provide aid to needy during lockdown

In the Diocese of Kalookan, 12 parishes have opened its churches to serve as vaccination sites

Several Catholic churches in the Philippine capital have opened its doors to provide people in need, especially those most affected by the implementation of the strict community quarantine due to the pandemic this week.

In the Diocese of Kalookan, 12 parishes have opened its churches to serve as vaccination sites in the cities of Malabon, Navotas, and Caloocan.

Father Rene Richard Bernardo, head of the Health Care Ministry of the diocese, said five additional parishes will open in the coming days to ensure that people will be vaccinated.




“We asked the parish health care ministry to make a list of people who will be vaccinated and we assist them,” said the priest.

He said people can also register online and the elderly are allowed to go to any vaccination center any time.

In the Diocese of Cubao, Father Ronaldo Santos, director of the diocesan Caritas, assured the faithful of the Church’s presence, saying that it is “very important” to provide hope.

“There’s a need for physical distancing, but we don’t need to distance ourselves from the needs of the people,” he said.

- Newsletter -

Father Efren Basco of the Diocese of Malolos said the Church should always be the source of inspiration for people, especially those who experience hardships.

“The role of the Church is important because people look up to the Church as their last recourse,” said the priest in an interview with Radio Veritas 846.

Several churches have been conducting food distribution programs and setting up community pantries to provide for those who are most affected by the pandemic.

Church volunteers distribute food to the homeless in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in the Diocese of Cubao on August 6, 2021. (Photo by Jire Carreon)

An independent monitoring group, OCTA Research, on Thursday indicated said that there is a continued transmission of COVID-19 in the country.

In its August 12 report, OCTA said the country’s reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that each COVID-19 case can infect, stood at 1.41.

Metro Manila registered a reproduction number of 1.76.

“The situation is more likely to get worse before it gets better,” said OCTA fellow Guido David on Twitter.

The Philippines on Wednesday reported 12,021 new cases, the highest daily tally recorded since April 10.

The new infections pushed the country’s total caseload to 1,688,040, with 29,374 deaths.

Metro Manila was placed under enhanced community quarantine, or lockdown, from August 6 to 20. However, the Department of Health said it may be extended due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

© Copyright LiCAS.news. All rights reserved. Republication of this article without express permission from LiCAS.news is strictly prohibited. For republication rights, please contact us at: [email protected]

Support LiCAS.news

We work tirelessly each day to tell the stories of those living on the fringe of society in Asia and how the Church in all its forms - be it lay, religious or priests - carries out its mission to support those in need, the neglected and the voiceless.
We need your help to continue our work each day. Make a difference and donate today.

Latest