Manila churches allowed to open up to 30-percent capacity, says bishop

MANILA, Philippines — Churches in Manila will now be allowed to open up to 30 percent of its capacity from the current 10 percent for church-goers, Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Monday.

In an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, Pabillo said Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso told him he will issue an executive order easing the limit on the number of Catholic faithfuls allowed to go inside churches in the city amid the general community quarantine being imposed in Metro Manila.

“Nakarating na at nakatanggap na ako ng balita ngayong umaga mula kay Yorme at ganun din kay Secretary [Menardo] Guevarra na papayagan na po ang 30 percent ng capacity ng simbahan. Sabi ni Yorme sa akin, ngayong hapon ay pwede na, gagawa siya ng executive order,” he said.

(I received information this morning from the mayor and from Secretary Guevarra that they will allow church-goers to occupy 30-percent of churches’ capacity. The mayor told me that it will be allowed starting this afternoon and that he will issue an executive order about it.)

“Ibig sabihin inaanyayahan na natin ang mga pwedeng magsimba na pwede na kayo pumasok sa loob ng simbahan,” he added.

(This means we are inviting those who are allowed to go out to enter churches.)

Pabillo said he was also told that curfew hours will be relaxed in Metro Manila starting December to give way for the conduct of the traditional Simbang Gabi for the Christmas season.

Metro Manila Council chairman Edwin Olivarez earlier said mayors of the region are looking at relaxing the curfew hours from the current 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. until 3 a.m. starting December.

According to Pabillo, churches in Manila will hold more Holy Masses for Simbang Gabi to allow attendees to practice physical distancing.

“Dadamihan ang places din ng misa kaya ang ibang simbahan ay kumukuha ng gyms tabi ng school para mag-alternate ‘yung misa,” he also said.

(There will also be more places for the holding of Holy Mass. Some churches are using gyms near schools so that the schedule of Masses will be held alternately.)

JE