Mass at Borongan Cathedral on Sunday, March 15, 2020. (Alren Beronio/ESTE News)
Religious gatherings in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) have been allowed to occupy up to 50 percent of a church building’s capacity, Malacañang announced on Friday.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque, who is also spokesman for the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the measure was approved on Thursday.
“Inaprubahan po ng inyong IATF ang pag-relax o pagluwag ng restrictions sa mga relihiyosong pagtitipon or religious gatherings sa mga lugar na nasa ilalim ng (GCQ) simula Lunes, a-kinse ng Pebrero. Pinapayagan na sa mga lugar na nasa GCQ ang religious service na hanggang 50% ng seating or venue capacity,” Roque said in a Laging Handa briefing.
Currently, religious gatherings are only allowed to use up to 30 percent of a venue’s capacity.
The IATF has also approved the reopening and further expansion of the following businesses and industries:
- driving schools;
- traditional cinemas and video and interactive-game arcades;
- libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers;
- meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, and limited social events at accredited establishments of the Department of Tourism
“Ang muling pagbubukas na ito ay subject sa implementing guidelines na magsasabi ng operational capacity at oversight ng appropriate regulatory agency at mga lokal na pamahalaan kung nasaan ang mga negosyo at ang mga industriya. Ang mga nasabing negosyo at industriya ay kailangan pa ring mahigpit na sumunod sa minimum health standards ng Department of Health,” Roque said.