Member schools of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines are helping frontliners and vulnerable communities to cope with the ongoing efforts to deal with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
A total of P10 million has been raised so far after the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) and the De La Salle Brothers have banded together to raise funds for the communities affected by the enhanced community quarantine in their neighborhoods.
The activity is called “Let’s Work Together To Fight, COVID-19!”
De La Salle University, in cooperation with Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center, has tapped the Razon Sports Complex and College of Saint Benilde’s covered courts to cater to the homeless of Manila City.
Those under their care will be provided shelter and food.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University has opened its dormitory units to medical frontliners.
“I appreciated the shelters, so the first thing that crossed my mind was to help,” Philippine Jesuit Provincial Fr. Jun Viray, SJ.
As of April 15, the “Let’s Work Together To Fight, COVID-19!” fundraiser has raised around P10 million.
The money will be used to feed almost 500 homeless individuals and 6,000 urban poor families.
“A little conversation between myself and Father Jun created a spark that is more explosive than UAAP that allowed us to say, maybe this is the time to work together rather than compete,” added DLSU President Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC.
On the other hand, Adamson University is stepping up its relief efforts to help medical frontliners travelling to and from their place of work.
The school made two of its buses available to help transport the staff members of Makati Medical Center.
The first bus travels to and from MMC and Paliparan-Molino Road, while the other has its lone pick-up point at the LRT Monumento Station.
“We are deploying two buses daily to transport the staff of Makati Medical Center. Wala kasing public transport right now. To help them get to work and home safe, we gave them our buses,” said Adamson’s representative to the Board of Managing Directors Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM.
The school has also opened its doors to the medical workers of Philippine General Hospital.
The dormitory of the university’s women’s volleyball team is now being used to house a number of PGH’s staff.
“Twenty-four to 30 PGH staff ang nakatira du’n ngayon. We are giving them accommodation and also food nila. Every week, a new group comes in kasi ‘pag duty nila one week ‘yun, then they will rest for another week so a new group comes in after that,” Suan shared.