CEBU CITY—For the first time in more than four months, a Holy Mass, with the faithful in attendance, was held Sunday at the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino de Cebu here.
Although with limited capacity, the basilica started holding regular Masses starting at 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
The holding of regular Masses was finally allowed after City Mayor Edgardo Labella issued Executive Order (EO) No. 86-B.
The EO 86-B amended Labella’s previous EO that only allowed churches to accept 10 people in a Mass.
Under the new EO, a Mass would be allowed to be attended by churchgoers equivalent to 10 percent of the church’s seating capacity.
Labella, on Saturday, met with pastoral groups and police personnel in preparation for the resumption of regular masses.
The mayor reminded that physical distancing must be strictly observed during Masses.
“I understand that most Cebuanos are really eager to hear Mass that is why I asked the Inter-Agency Task Force to allow the holding of Masses with 10 percent of the church’s seating capacity,” said Labella.
In its advisory, the Basilica reminded that only 350 churchgoers will be allowed per Mass.
The basilica also enforced a “no quarantine pass, no entry” policy.
Policemen were also deployed outside the basilica to ensure that quarantine protocols were strictly observed.