“The IATF may include the request of the bishops for a higher limit in the agenda of its next meeting,” Guevarra told reporters.
The IATF is expected to meet either on Tuesday or Thursday this week.
He added that the IATF has not yet received any formal request from any religious group regarding the matter.
The national government currently allows 30% capacity in religious activities in areas under general community quarantine and 50% capacity in areas under modified GCQ.
Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo is one of those who requested for an expanded church capacity.
He noted that church services are needed today because it can help people cope with the pandemic.
“We know that church services, religious services can help a lot to strengthen people spiritually, mentally in front of what’s happening around us,” Pabillo told CNN Philippines’ News Night.
Pabillo also pointed out there was no reported surge in coronavirus infections due to recent religious activities. He said minimum health protocols should just be followed.
“We have seen even with the case of Quiapo, with the case of Simbang Gabi, with the case of Sto. Niño, there was no surge of COVID infection because of large gatherings of people, since there is proper protocol that is being followed,” he added. “Having more people coming for the services will greatly help a lot.”
Pabillo also said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is the proper body to make the request for increased church capacity to the national government.
“It should be within the competence of the CBCP, as a national body, to make that request to another national body, the IATF,” he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases may discuss during its upcoming meeting this week the appeals to increase the number of allowed people to physically attend religious gatherings, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.
CNN Philippines correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report
