Solon pushes for ‘Christmas family bubble’ for holiday celebrations

BRIGHT LIGHTS Residents of Catbalogan City display their Christmas lights to brighten and cheer their communities amid the gloom brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker is pushing for a “Christmas family bubble” to allow families to physically celebrate the holiday season with their loved ones.

BHW Rep. Angelica Natasha Co said Tuesday that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) tasked on COVID-related policies can approve special guidelines for families that want to physically celebrate Christmas and New Year with their loved ones.

For Co, one of the possible means is through a Christmas family bubble.

Under the Christmas family bubble, Co said families that are able to plan ahead can self-isolate and self-quarantine for 14 days before their in-person celebration.

“This means they are able to ready and gather everything they would need, work from home, avail of their leave credits, and have an isolation room just in case anyone attending the celebrations suddenly develops COVID-19 symptoms,” Co said.

“If they can undergo COVID-19 testing just before they enter their family’s Christmas Bubble, that would be ideal,” she added.

The lawmaker said the IATF can use the NBA sports bubble as a working guide on how the Christmas family bubble can be done.

“Palagay ko mayroong safe na paraan para makapiling ng mga lolo at lola ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay at magsama-sama ang magkakapamilya at magkakaibigan sa pagdiriwang ng Bisperas ng Pasko, Araw ng Pasko, Bisperas ng Bagong Taon, at Unang araw ng Bagong Taon,” Co said.

But Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Tuesday family reunions are also prohibited during the Christmas season as they are also considered as mass gatherings.

“Yes, that’s right. Family reunions are mass gatherings of different families within a clan. Immediate family gathering is allowed,” Año told INQUIRER.net in a text message when asked if such events are also covered by the ban on mass gatherings.

“A family reunion is an occasion of a large gathering when many members of extended families congregate to eat, socialize, and commemorate,” he added.

JPV