Church officials urged to meet LGUs for resumption of religious events

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) advised churches to meet with local government units on the resumption of religious gatherings once Metro Manila shifts to general community quarantine (GCQ). 

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said local government officials were responsible for convincing the IATF to include religious gatherings as among the mass gatherings to be prohibited. 

“I’m sure karamihan sa mga miyembro ng IATF ay sang-ayon na ipatuloy ang mga religious gatherings, pero ang sabi nga po nung binawi yan ng IATF, ang mga nagreklamo ay mga local opisyales nga rin po natin (I’m sure most IATF members are OK with allowing religious gatherings; but when the IATF reversed its position, it was because of the complaints of local officlals),” Roque said.

“Ang importante nga po is, supposing itutuloy nga po ang religious gatherings, how sure are we po na magkakaroon ng social distancing kasi may mga lugar po gaya ng South Korea kung saan kumalat nga ang COVID-19 dahil sa religious gatherings (The important thing when allowing religious gatherings is, how sure are we that we can maintain social distancing, since in places such as South Korea, COVID-19 spread through religious gatherings),” he added.

Roque said church officials must present their plans on how to implement social distancing measures during religious events. 

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo has laid out protocols for church events in the Archdiocese of Manila once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) expires on May 15. He was also the one who raised the question to Roque on the resumption of religious gatherings. 

The cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay and San Juan are under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila.