Malacañang said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will soon discuss the proposal to prohibit Christmas street caroling to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba suggested to ban street caroling this Christmas as a measure against the coronavirus.
(JOEY DALUMPINES / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a virtual press briefing aired via state-run PTV-4, Roque said the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) will definitely include the proposal in one of its future meetings.
"Hndi pa po 'yan napagpulungan at napag-usapan sa IATF (We have not talked about that in the IATF yet)," he said on Thursday.
"I'm sure maa-agenda 'yan sa mga susunod na meeting ng IATF (I'm sure it will be part of the agenda in our next IATF meeting)," he added.
Last month, the IATF eased the restrictions on religious gatherings, allowing churches to fill up to 30 percent of their seating capacity to accommodate those who want to attend the "Simbang Gabi" next month.
In one of his virtual press briefings, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the IATF has yet to discuss if there should be rules on how to celebrate Christmas amid the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Hindi pa po namin napaguusapan yun. Wala pa tayong rules na ginagawa sa IATF about that. So wala pa po (We haven't talked about Christmas yet. The IATF does not have rules about that yet. So there's none for now)," he said.
Nograles, however, suggested that families and friends should take advantage of the available technology to hold get-togethers instead of risking their health to meet one another during the holidays.
"Dapat alalahanin po natin na mayroon pa rin tayong (Remember that we have) health and safety protocols when it comes to mass gatherings no. 'Di pwede basta-basta mag-mass gathering (We cannot just simply hold gatherings)," he said.
"Pwede naman mag-Christmas party via online o Zoom or gagamitin natin yung technology o iba't ibang online platforms para sa ating Christmas get-togethers (We can hold our Christmas parties virtually or use different technology platforms for our Christmas get-togethers)," he added.
The Palace official said that the government only wants the public to celebrate Christmas without anybody getting sick.
"Gusto natin maging masaya rin kahit papano yung Pasko kahit mayroon tayong kinakaharap na pandemya (We want to make Christmas as merry as possible even though we are facing a pandemic)," Nograles said.
"Pero siyempre, mas magiging masaya ang Pasko kung walang mahahawa ng COVID (But, of course, Christmas will be merrier if no one will catch COVID-19)," he added.