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LiCAS News
Jose Torres Jr. and Mark Saludes, Philippines
March 17, 2020

The social action arm of the Philippines’ Catholic bishops’ conference has urged dioceses across the country to set up “kindness stations” in poor communities affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

The government has placed the entire island of Luzon, home to over 57 million people, on “enhanced community quarantine” starting March 16 in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Under the order, strict quarantine for all households is implemented, transportation is suspended, and provision for food and “essential health services” are regulated.

Father Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of the social action secretariat of the bishops’ conference, said community-based efforts have to be done because the operations of humanitarian organizations are paralyzed due to the lockdown.

“We need to de-centralize the giving of assistance,” Father Gariguez said. “We need to mobilize communities to help the most needy and vulnerable members,” he said.

“Kindness through community solidarity must be promoted, more than the usual centralized aid assistance,” he added.

Father Gariguez said fund-raising can be done at the community level so that village leaders can have the capacity to respond to the need of the people.

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines warned of a “humanitarian crisis” in the wake of the “enhanced community quarantine.”

Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, general secretary of the Protestant council, expressed grave concern for workers and for the poor.

“Unless the poor are considered and provided with economic relief and unless medical services are enhanced and made accessible for them, the community quarantine will defeat itself,” he said.

“This will just lead us to further humanitarian crisis,” said the bishop.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine on March 16, a day after a community quarantine took effect in the capital.

The enhanced community quarantine expanded the coverage to the entirety of the main island of Luzon.

“We are doomed to suffer a more serious humanitarian crisis altogether if the social and economic concerns of the poor remain unaddressed,” said Bishop Marigza.

He said massive job and income losses and inaccessible basic social services “will worsen the plight of millions of Filipinos already suffering from poverty and hunger.”

Church leaders divided on lockdown

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, said the public should give authorities “the benefit of the doubt” and let them work on addressing the threat of the pandemic.

The prelate, however, called on the Philippine government to “give subsidy to the poor and the people who depend on their daily work.”

Bishop Roberto Mallari of San Jose said his diocese in the northern Philippines “will comply” with the government decision to limit the movement of the population “for the good of our people.”

Father Warren Puno of the Diocese of Lucena has expressed worry on how local governments will be able to feed the people if a strict lockdown will be imposed.

“Is there really a comprehensive plan before they decided to impose this?” asked the priest.

“There are many poor Filipinos who rely on their daily wages. Can the government provide for all of them?” he said.

Father Puno said he is not against any move to combat the spread of the disease “but we need to prove to the public that we can provide their basic needs and that they will not die of hunger.”

Redemptorist priest Oliver Castor said the lockdown “was too late.” He said the country should have implemented a strict ban on all incoming flights to Manila as soon as the outbreak started.

He said the Filipino people is now suffering because of the “inability” of the government to handle the situation one step ahead.

“A strategic approach to address COVID-19 is needed,” said Father Amado Picardal.

He said the recent deployment of security forces to close every border and to limit the movement of the people is “inadequate and only contributes to the spread of the virus.”

“A community quarantine or lockdown must be accompanied by massive test and detection, immediate response to cases, adequate protective equipment, and food supply,” said Father Picardal.

He said the long-term lockdown “without addressing the basic needs of the poor run the risk of chaos when the choice becomes either catch COVID-19 or die of hunger.”

LiCAS News
Mark Saludes, Philippines 
March 18, 2020

Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines called on the government to “plug the gap” in its efforts to address the impact of the new coronavirus on the poor.

The church’s social action arm said the “welfare of the poorest and the most vulnerable” should be considered during the implementation of the lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.

Father Edwin Gariguez, executive director of Caritas Philippines, released recommendations he gathered from various social action ministries and civil society groups across the country.

“We decided to issue an appeal because we want to help the government in responding to this crisis,” he told LiCAS.news.

“We need to help the government find a proper response to this problem,” said the priest.

Caritas Philippines urged the government to distribute free food and medical assistance and give priority to depressed areas in the country’s main island of Luzon during the 30-day lockdown.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier put all of Luzon under an “enhanced community quarantine” until April 12 to stop the spread of infection from the new coronavirus.

Duterte said public movement would be restricted to only buying food, medicine, and other essential items necessary for survival.

In a phone interview, Father Gariguez said the presidential office should consider “freeing up” its $182 million intelligence fund and use it “to support the daily basic needs of the impoverished.”

The priest stressed the need to provide emergency assistance packages to workers and low-income earners to compensate for the loss of wages during the forced-quarantine period.

“It should be in the form of comprehensive financial assistance and unemployment benefits and not loans,” said the priest.

On March 17, the country’s labor department issued guidelines for workers affected by the lockdown.

The guidelines include one-time financial assistance of $100 “to cover the remaining unpaid leave of the affected workers.”

Father Gariguez, however, said the amount is not enough to help workers survive the month-long quarantine.

“It has to be more than that amount,” he said.

In its appeal to the government, Caritas Philippines also noted that treatment for those infected should be made readily available and paid for by the government.

“Mass testing should be conducted in all areas as a prevention and containment measure,” read the statement released by the group.

“There is emerging evidence of best practices from other countries on how testing can be ramped up and scaled up,” it added.

Father Gariguez said a plan for a “house-to-house approach” in mass testing and disease detection should be developed, considering that hospitals are already full because of other illnesses.

The Philippines has a 101,688-bed capacity in all its 1,224 government hospitals. Private hospitals only have a capacity of 54,317 beds.

Caritas Philippines urged the public and private sectors to help the government in doing “mass disinfection” in areas where people usually congregate.

The social action arm also called for the deployment of health professionals at checkpoints instead of military personnel.

“We are confronting a health crisis, not a military problem. Extreme compassion should be exercised at all times,” read the Caritas appeal.

Other recommendations include a moratorium on public financial obligations.

“Filipino families must be un-burdened with these obligations at a time when the preoccupation should be prevention, containment, and treatment,” said the group.

The Catholic humanitarian arm called for the establishment of a “community-level citizens desk” that will serve as “feedback, grievance, and action mechanism.”

It urged the government to “speak in a unified voice,” adding that the health department should be the sole source of information and direction to avoid confusion and miscommunication.

Father Gariguez said the recommendations aim to improve the country’s response to the crisis and “avoid civil disobedience or a possible uprising because of the disgruntled public.”

The priest also encouraged church institutions and civil society groups to prepare their respective humanitarian responses, especially after the imposed enhanced community quarantine.

“The government will be needing our help in assisting the public, especially the poor and the impoverished, stand on their own feet again,” he said.

“The real and harder challenge will come in the coming days. We must be ready to extend our arms to the government. We must be always ready to care for the poor,” said the priest.

TAGS Catholic News | Coronavirus | Philippines

There is an appointed time for everything (Eccl. 3:1).

To the People of God in Metro Manila:

“There is an appointed time for everything,” (Eccl. 3:1) the Holy Bible says. Let us heed the signs of our time and respond to them appropriately.  The government has declared a community quarantine in Metro Manila from March 15 to April 14 to stem the spread of COVID 19. We bishops of this region met to discuss common pastoral actions in the light of this development. We have been guided by fidelity to the faith, service to the people, and the common good of the community.  After much discussion and discernment, we have decided on the following points which we will implement in our ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the Archdiocese of Manila, in the dioceses of Cubao, Novaliches, Pasig, Kalookan, Parañaque, parts of both the diocese of Antipolo and Malolos that belong to Metro Manila, and some parts of the Military Vicariate of the Philippines.

1.         We will abide by the government’s directive to suspend all large gatherings from March 15 to April 14. So there will be no celebration of the Holy Mass with a large congregation within this period, plus other religious activities during the Holy Week which usually attract huge crowds of the faithful. We heed the instruction of the CBCP which reads: “We should continue to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and Holy Week liturgical celebrations even in the absence of a congregation.  In spite of the fact that our faithful cannot be physically present in the Eucharistic celebration, the crisis gives us the opportunity to unite ourselves with one another in the bond of spiritual communion through the digital technology” (CBCP circular 20-14).

2.         The Baptisms, Confirmations, and Weddings scheduled within these dates, which can no longer be postponed due to the enormity of the preparations involved, may push through, but will be subject to severe restrictions as to the number of participants and attendees, and proper social distancing should be observed.  All other celebrations of these aforementioned sacraments are to be temporarily deferred.

3.         Since the dates for the Metro Manila Community Quarantine will coincide with the last three Sundays of Lent, and Holy Week, it would mean that the liturgical celebrations during those days, including Palm Sunday, the rest of the Holy Week and Easter Sunday will not be open to the public.    

4.         There will be no public blessing of palms, Visita Iglesia, Siete Palabras, Good Friday procession and Easter Salubong.  We encourage the faithful to stay home and follow the said activities on TV, Radio, or online. The faithful are called upon to pray the Rosary as it is a good prayer to meditate on the mysteries of the life of the Lord that we intensely celebrate in the universal Church during the Holy Week.

5.         We call for days of penance, prayer, and fasting during all the Fridays of Lent (March 20, 27, and April 3), including Good Friday (April 10). This is our response to the CBCP appeal: “We are enjoining all the Local Ordinaries and the Diocesan Administrators to call for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for all those who are infected with the COVID-19 and those who have died, and for our deliverance from this pandemic” (CBCP circular 20-14).

6.         The month-long community quarantine will affect the poor and the daily wage earners heavily. Let our parishes and church institutions, in close coordination with their local government units (LGUs),  be creative in going out of their way to help the people in their basic needs. We appeal for donations to help the poor and the sick.

7.         Let the bells of our Churches be heard at 12  o’clock noon and 8 o’clock in the evening to call all the faithful to pray the Oratio Imperata together with the praying of the Angelus at noon and the family rosary in the evening. Let us all earnestly turn to the Lord in prayer. Together with the psalmist, let us pray: “I love you, LORD, my strength, LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!” (Ps. 18:2-3)

Our present situation is very fluid. For the moment these are our common actions in our dioceses. Other developments and subsequent instructions may come in the future. Let us all be vigilant. We offer to the Lord the difficulties and uncertainties that confront us in the spirit of Lent, which is the spirit of fervent prayer, penance and generosity. We are assured of Easter. Life will overcome death. This virus will pass us by. We say with St. Paul: “We even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts” (Rom. 5:3-5).

Let us entrust ourselves to the maternal care of Mary, Mother of the Afflicted.

Yours truly in Christ:

Most Rev. NOLLY C. BUCO            Most Rev. PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID
Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo                   Bishop of Kalookan

Most Rev. FRANCISCO M. DE LEON     Most Rev. OSCAR L. FLORENCIO           Bishop of Antipolo                     Bishop of the Military Ordinariate
                                                                                    of the Philippines

Most Rev. ROBERTO O. GAA                    Most Rev. JESSE E. MERCADO
Bishop of Novaliches                                      Bishop of Parañaque

Most Rev. BRODERICK S. PABILLO   Most Rev. HONESTO F. ONGTIOCO
Apostolic Administrator of the                      Bishop of Cubao
Archdiocese of Manila

Most Rev. MYLO HUBERT C. VERGARA   Most Rev. DENNIS C. VILLAROJO
Bishop of Pasig                                                           Bishop of Malolos

16 March 2020

Muling naglimbag ang Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas ng Daan ng Krus Para sa Buhay. Mabibili ang bagong edisyon ng Daang ng Krus sa mga tanggapan ng Sangguniang Laiko at Radyo Veritas.

Pwedeng i- download ang kopya ng Daan ng Krus Para sa Buhay dito.

Circular No. 20-10 
March 10, 2020

TO ALL THE BISHOPS AND THE DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATORS

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies and Reverend Administrators,

RE:   PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY – COVID-19

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)

The Department of Health (DOH) has declared a state of public health emergency in the country. This according to our health officials is a call to greater preparedness if the spread of the Corona Virus continues to affect greater number of the population. This has caused more fear, anxiety, and genuine concern. We need to take all of these seriously. We have already issued some guidelines in the recent past on the matter but we need to respond to the situation now in consistent efforts together.

As Catholics, we believe that God uses material instruments to bring to us His blessings and presence. This is the reason why we use material elements in our sacraments and sacramentals.

The same material elements that bring us God’s blessings are also subject to the broken nature of our fallen world. Science and our God-given reason demand that we use every means available to protect ourselves and our families against the spread of COVID-19 and any other disease. In the face of this world wide pandemic we are demanded to exercise vigilance as a Church, lest our churches become venues of transmission of the disease.

The measures we are strongly recommending do not change the traditions of the Church but rather are temporary precautions during this time of crisis.

We continue to appeal to our priests and faithful to follow the hygiene protocol that the DOH has consistently requested to everyone, namely, the proper washing and sanitation of hands and avoidance of body contacts. There is nothing more effective measure in this crisis than the best effort to stay clean.

1.      We recommend those feeling unwell physically to refrain from liturgical assemblies until they are certain of their diagnosis. Taking the basic steps of wellness as recommended by the health authorities is not only sensible, but wise and considerate of others. In truth, it is an expression of genuine charity. For vulnerable populations like elderly, those who are immunocompromised, they may view the celebration of Holy Mass on TV and the social media.

2.      Clergy and the faithful alike should use best practices through careful hand-washing and frequent cleaning of liturgical space and objects (e.g. sacred statues and sacred vessels). Our liturgical spaces should be disinfected/sanitized after every liturgical services. We should also provide hand sanitizers at the doors of our Churches for the use of our church goers.