Roque: No govt decision yet on holding of religious gatherings

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s policy-making task force in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis has yet to decide whether or not to allow religious gatherings in light of the lingering threat of the novel coronavirus, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque bared that religious groups were able to present before the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases “detailed proposals” in allowing religious gatherings.

“Mukha naman pong pupwede ipatupad po ‘yan,” Roque said in a televised Palace briefing.

“Pero sa ngayon po wala pa pong desisyon. Hindi pa rin po natin pinapayagan ang pagpupulong for religious purposes. So hanggang lima hanggang sampu lang po ang pupwede,” he added.

The religious groups’ appeal would be tabled for discussion in future IATF meetings, Roque noted.

“I think in the coming weeks i-a-agenda na po ang proposal ng mga religious sa IATF. Kung hindi po ‘yan mai-a-agenda sa Biyernes, ma-a-agenda ‘yan next week,” he said.

Earlier, the government called on religious organizations to coordinate with the IATF how they intend to implement physical distancing and other health protocols against the novel coronavirus during religious gatherings as calls for allowing such activities mount.

/MUF