QC halts issuance of permits for public assembly due to DILG order

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government on Friday stopped the issuance and processing of permits to hold public assemblies after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a directive to ban mass gatherings. 

“In compliance with DILG Advisory dated July 23, 2020, which reiterates IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) Resolution No. 57 dated July 21, 2020 prohibiting mass gatherings during community quarantine due to health reasons, the Quezon City Government, thru the City Legal Department, would like to inform the public that all applications for permits to organize or hold public assemblies shall not be processed,” read the statement on its official Facebook page days before President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Earlier, the National Capital Region Police Office revealed the advisory from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año which states that “IATF strongly reiterates that mass gatherings, such as but not limited to movie screenings, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, community assemblies and non-essential work gatherings are prohibited.”

President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his speech physically at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City  but only a limited number of Cabinet members and lawmakers will attend the SONA to promote social distancing and stop the further contamination of the respiratory disease. [ac]