Gov’t OKs once-a-day church gatherings of 10 percent capacity for Holy Week

(FILE) Catholic faithful wearing face shields and maintaining physical distancing attend a mass at the usually packed Baclaran church in Paranaque City, suburban Manila on October 9, 2020. Ted ALJIBE / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The government has allowed once-a-day religious gatherings of up to 10 percent venue capacity in churches for the coming Holy Week or from April 1 to April 4, Malacañang announced on Friday.

“Pinayagan po ng inyong IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] ang once a day religious gatherings mula a uno hanggang a kwatro ng Abril…Kinakailangan sundin ang maximum indoor capacity na 10 porsyento sa lahat ng oras,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

(The IATF has allowed once-a-day religious gatherings from April 1 to April 4. They have to follow the maximum indoor capacity of 10 percent at all times.)

Roque said entry to churches and venues of worship activities “via reservation” is encouraged to ensure compliance to the 10 percent capacity limitation.

“Bawal ang pagtitipon tipon o pagsasagawa ng religious activities sa labas ng simbahan o venue,” he said.

Audiovisual feeds of religious activities outside churches are also not allowed to prevent Mass goers from crowding.

Live singing will be “strictly limited,” while recorded singing is highly encouraged.

“Hindi lang po ito para sa Simbahang Katoliko, 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,” Roque said.

(This is not just for the Catholic Church, this is for all faithful including Muslims, Shinto, religious gatherings once a day are allowed at 10 percent capacity from April 1 to 4.)

Earlier, the government barred all Mass gatherings including religious activities in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) bubble which covers Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna to stem the surge in COVID-19 cases.

/MUF