Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 2) — Despite the easing of quarantine measures across the country, the government is not ready to allow more than ten people to gather in places of worship under general community quarantine.
“Sa ngayon po, hindi pa po papayagan ang mass gathering for religious purposes (For now, mass gathering for religious purposes is still not allowed),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced in an online media briefing on Tuesday.
Only ten people are allowed in religious gatherings in areas under GCQ: Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Zamboanga City, Davao City and several cities and provinces in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Central Visayas. Meanwhile, a more relaxed modified GCQ is in place in the rest of the country.
It remains unclear whether more people can gather in churches under MGCQ. Roque said there are no new guidelines yet for religious activities in places under MGCQ, so the 10-people limit would be in effect.
However, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in an earlier statement said churches have been allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity in areas under MGCQ starting June 1.
He said this was agreed upon following a meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, the policy-making body in the government’s COVID-19 response, with representatives from the church and local government units on Monday.
On April 30, Roque announced that the government would allow church activities and essential work-related meetings in cities and provinces with low- to moderate-risk of COVID-19 spread. Roque took back this announcement the next day, saying local officials protested the government’s initial decision.
Guevarra said the Department of Health will submit new data on June 10, “which will be the basis for possible reclassification of community quarantine regimes by June 15.”
Both Roque and Guevarra said restrictions may be eased if new information would point to an improvement in the coronavirus situation in the country. There are now 18,638 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, with 960 deaths and 3,979 recoveries.
