The decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to allow up to 50 percent religious gatherings in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) is a welcome development for an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
San Pablo Bishop Buenaventura Famadico, chairman of the CBCP - Episcopal Commission on Clergy, welcomed the decision of the IATF-EID as people also need to go to church and be with their fellow faithful to praise and thank the Lord as a community.
"We should welcome this decision as religious activities, especially in churches, must also be given equal importance as people need to be able to go to churches and be with their fellow faithful to praise and thank the Lord as a community," he told church-run Radio Veritas Thursday, June 3.
"On the other hand, we still need to take extra care by practicing physical distancing. We make the best of what we have," added Famadico.
The Diocese of Kalookan on Wednesday, June 2, posted this statement from Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on their Facebook page.
"I just want to confirm po that religious gatherings are allowed up to 50 percent of venue capacity in the NCR+ starting June 1, unless the concerned LGU interposes any objection and requires a lower limit. We are reminded to observe all agreed health protocols more strictly than ever," it read.