Religious gatherings in Metro Manila will be allowed at up to 30 percent of seating capacity, the Palace announced on Friday.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the pandemic task force had accepted the recommendation of Metro Manila Mayors to increase the occupiable capacity in churches.

“Nagpulong po ang inyong IATF kahapon kung saan nagsabi ang Metro Manila Council na pinapayagan ng mga mayors ng NCR ang religious gathering sa 30 percent venue capacity,” Roque said in a Laging Handa briefing.

Previously, the IATF allowed religious gatherings at up to 10 percent of the venue capacity in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said that the imposition of the 10-percent limit was “a case of plain oversight.”

Metro Manila is among the areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions until May 31.

The Philippines has recorded 1,171,403 Covid-19 cases as of May 21. John Ezekiel J. Hirro