CEBU CITY—Authorities here are open to allowing the holding of religious activities that are usually being held during the Holy Week.
Councilor Joel Garganera,chief of the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said the city’s COVID-19 cases continue to decline and there is no reason not to allow the return of religious activities during the Holy Week in April.
“It’s been two years that we have been deprived of normally observing the Lenten season. I think the public, the Cebuanos, should earn this because of their cooperation to comply with the protocols. We will celebrate the Lenten season the way we used to as faithfuls, as Catholics,” Garganera said.
In its upcoming convergence meeting, the EOC will be recommending to City Mayor Michael Rama the return of religious activities during the Holy Week, Garganera said.
In Cebu province, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will be meeting with officials from the Cebu Archdiocese to discuss preparations for the Lenten season.
Garcia is looking at lifting several restrictions that were enforced to prevent overcrowding during the previous Holy Week celebrations.
“I believe (that) in light of all these, we too must be able to adapt our guidelines especially in so far as the coming Holy Week activities are concerned,” Garcia said in a press conference on Wednesday, March 2.
Religious activities that are usually being held in the city and province include the Visita Iglesia, processions, and Sugat.
The governor said the province has to coordinate with church officials to ensure that all religious activities will be done orderly.
“I speak not because I wish to meddle with the affairs of the Church. I speak from the viewpoint of a governor who has always valued our custom, our traditions, our heritage, and the activities that are part of the observation of the Holy Week,” Garcia said.
The Holy Week will be observed from April 11 to 16.