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Govt further eases restrictions for religious gatherings in GCQ areas

MORE faithfuls will be allowed to attend religious gatherings in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ), Malacañang said on Friday, after the government approved further easing of health restrictions in churches and similar places of worship.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said religious gatherings with attendance of up to 50 percent of a venue’s capacity would be allowed starting February 15 in areas under GCQ.

“The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, relaxed restrictions on mass gatherings for religious activities in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) effective Feb.15, 2021,” Roque said in a statement.

“Specifically, religious gatherings in GCQ areas shall be allowed up to 50 percent of the seating or venue capacity,” he added.

The IATF’s latest decision was reached following the plea of some Catholic Church officials to increase the allowed capacity for religious events with Ash Wednesday set on 17 February.

Previously, public religious worship was allowed to a maximum of 30 percent in areas classified under GCQ such as Metro Manila and 50 percent of the venue capacity in areas under modified general community quarantine or MGCQ.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles has said that the existing health and safety protocols would be followed in the observance of Ash Wednesday.

“Kumbaga the same rule should apply this year as in last year kasi yung health and safety protocols natin ay pareho pa rin (The same rule implemented last year should apply this year because our health and safety protocols remain in effect),” said Nograles, co-chairman of the IATF.

As a preventive measure against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Catholic prelates in 2020 sprinkled the blessed ash on devotees’ heads instead of the traditional marking of a cross on the forehead.

The Archdiocese of Manila, in Circular 2021-05, said Catholic faithful would be allowed to burn palms at home and use the ashes to sprinkle on family members on Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent.

Parishes that will have difficulty finding old blessed palm branches for this year’s Ash Wednesday could also use dried leaves of plants or trees as an alternative, based on the circular.

The palm branches blessed during the previous year’s Palm Sunday mass are traditionally donated by parishioners to their parish.

Ash Wednesday begins the 40-day season of Lent, when Catholics pray, fast, and give alms to purify their lives.

About 80 percent of the Philippine population belongs to the Catholic Church, and millions of people in this former Spanish colony troop to churches during Lent.


Source: ManilaTimes
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