MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) allowed churches in the “National Capital Region plus” to conduct a “once-a-day” religious gathering from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday. However, attendance will be limited to 10 percent of the church’s seating capacity.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the approval from the IATF-EID is “good news for those who wanted to hear mass during the Holy Week.”
Roque stressed that churches should strictly implement health protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019.
He mentioned that there should be no gatherings or conduct of religious activities outside the place of worship; the use of audio-video screens or public address systems outside the church/worship service is prohibited; live singing is allowed but should be limited while recorded singing is encouraged.
Religious groups were also tasked by the IATF-EID to set up a system that allows devotees to reserve slots for in-person attendance in churches to ensure that capacity limits are complied with.
“Hindi lang po ito para sa Simbahang Katolika, lahat po ng pananampalataya kasama na rin po ang ating kapatid na Muslim, mga Shinto, pupuwede pong once a day, 10 percent capacity, April 1 to April 4,” said Roque.
Previously, the task force prohibited the conduct of religious gathering of more than 10 people in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal – which the government called “NCR Plus” bubble area.
The order did not sit well with church groups as Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said they will defy the order as religious activities with only 10 percent of church capacity cannot be considered as mass gathering.
Responding to this, Palace warned that churches will be closed down if they will defy the previous IATF-EID resolution by holding masses despite tighter restrictions imposed in “NCR Plus.”/PN
