De La Salle University opens doors as shelter for homeless amid quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — De La Salle University (DLSU) has welcomed the homeless to stay inside its Manila campus while the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus is in force.

DLSU is housing 61 people on the second floor of the Enrique Razon Sports Center, the university said in a statement Sunday on Facebook. These include vulnerable minorities such as women and the elderly.

In pictures that the institution shared, beneficiaries are seen staying on mats that are spaced apart from each other.

To run its “temporary sanctuary,” DLSU partnered with Catholic organization Divine Word Missionaries (SVD), which runs a program for the homeless called KALINGA (KAin, LIgo NG Ayos).

“SVD volunteers are looking after the basic needs of those who are taking shelter at the Sports Center,” the school said.

DLSU is accepting cash donations to provide supplies of food, medicine and health kits through the following bank account:

AJ KALINGA FOUNDATION, INC.
Asia United Bank (AUB)
AUB Peso Savings Account no.: 082-11-000496-2

The City of Manila has also extended aid to street dwellers, with the local government opening the Delpan Sports Complex as a temporary shelter amid efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

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