The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was urged on Sunday, Jan. 10, to strictly monitor the enforcement of minimum health standards in the localities with the expected surge of COVID-19 cases after the holiday season.

This call was made after concerned citizens were alarmed by the supposed laxity in the implementation of quarantine protocols by some local government units (LGUs).

The fear was further magnified after some 400,000 devotees attended the Feast of Nazarene celebration on Jan. 9 in Manila.

Factory worker Angie Labrador admitted risking getting afflicted with COVID-19 stressing that it has been “a panata (vow)” for her to attend the celebration since she first joined the festivities 35 years ago.

“Dose anyos pa lang ako nun. Ang lolo at lola ko at magulang ko mga deboto ng Itim na Nazareno kaya ganun din kami (I was 12 years old then. My grandparents and parents were devotees of the Black Nazarene and they passed it on to us),” Labrador said.

The DILG did not respond when pressed if sanctions will be imposed against the police or other concerned parties as quarantine protocols were obviously violated during the celebration.

Criminology student Paul Francisco expressed disbelief how the people could disregard quarantine protocols in the midst of the pandemic.

“COVID-19 is no joke. This is not something that people can simply ignore. The public should heed the repeated calls of the DILG and the Department of Health (DOH) for them to exercise caution. Do not be stubborn,” Francisco said in Filipino.

In a GMA News report, the DOH advised the devotees who attended the recent Black Nazarene Feast in Quiapo, Manila to isolate themselves should symptoms appear.

DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said “mga debotong dumalo sa Traslacion (the devotees who attended the traslacion) should monitor themselves for any COVID-19 symptoms."

He added that the DOH took note that in some areas near Quiapo Church, social distancing was not observed by devotees.