Several parishes in Metro Manila maintained the suspension of public Masses as the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) deferred its decision to pilot general community quarantine (GCQ) with granular lockdowns.
The San Fernando de Dilao Parish in Paco, Manila said public Masses will not push through on Wednesday, Sept. 8 because "the IATF cannot make a definite decision" on the quarantine status of Metro Manila.
"Dahil po sa pabago-bagong desisyon ng gobyerno, hindi po muna matutuloy ang mga pampublikong misa natin bukas, September 8, at sa mga susunod na Linggo hanggang sa maging maayos po ang desisyon ng IATF (Due to the government's inconsistent decisions, our public Masses will not push through tomorrow, September 8, and in the following days until the IATF makes a definite decision)," it wrote on Facebook.
The Parish then urged churchgoers to just stream their Masses on its Facebook page or YouTube channel.
Other parishes also had similar posts, poking fun at the last-minute decision of the IATF.
Meanwhile, the Mary Comforter of the Afflicted Parish in Pasay City said since the government "cannot come up with a fixed decision" it has likewise decided to suspend public Masses.
"Hindi natin malaman kung ano ba talaga ang desisyon ng gobyerno, kaya bukas magbabalik muli tayo sa MECQ. Wala muna po tayong pampublikong banal na misa. Maghintay po ng abiso dito sa ating opisyal na Facebook account ng ating parokya (We don't know what the government's decision really is, so tomorrow we will return to MECQ. We don't have a public Holy Mass yet. Please wait for our update her on our official Facebook page)," it announced.
Metro Manila will remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until Sept. 15.
Indoor and al-fresco dine-in services, gyms, and personal care services including beauty salons and nail spas remain prohibited.
Only religious services performed through online video recording and transmissions are allowed during MECQ.