MANILA, Philippines — Religious gatherings are now allowed up to 30% capacity in Metro Manila after local chief executives gave their approval, Malacañang said Friday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Metro Manila mayors, who compose the Metro Manila Council (MMC), have allowed the increase in the venue capacity of religious gatherings to 30% from the previous 10%.
This decision was made during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) with the MMC on Thursday, Roque said.
“Nagpulong ang iyong IATF kahapon kung saan nagsabi ang MMC na pinapayagan ng mga mayors ng NCR ang religious gatherings na 30% venue capacity,” he announced in a Laging Handa briefing.
(The IATF met yesterday where the MMC said the mayors of NCR are allowing NCR religious gatherings of up to 30% venue capacity.)
“Binigyan ng discretion ang local government units (LGUs) na taasan ang religious gatherings na hindi tataas sa 30% allowable venue capacity,” he added.
(The IATF gave the LGUs the discretion to increase the capacity of religious gatherings to no more than 30%.)
Metro Manila is under general community quarantine (GCQ) with “heightened restrictions” until the end of May.
As for other areas under “heightened” GCQ, it is up to LGUs whether they would allow up to 30% venue capacity of religious gatherings in their localities since the IATF has allowed them to make the decision, Roque said.
“Yes, with consent of LGUs,” Roque told INQUIRER.net in a text message when asked if other areas under heightened GCQ are also allowed to increase their capacity for religious gatherings.
This clarification was made after Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra earlier said the IATF “granted the request of the churches to allow religious gatherings up to 30% of venue capacity in NCR+ and other areas under heightened GCQ until May 31.”
“NCR Plus” includes Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan.
The IATF also allowed the resumption of relocation activities of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for informal settlers who are affected by the agency’s construction projects.
This, however, should be in accordance with existing laws and ordinances, and subject to safety and health protocols and minimum public health standards, Roque said.
The task force also approved the recommendations of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to ramp up the contact tracing applications of several LGUs, such as those being used by Pasig, Mandaluyong, Antipolo, Valenzuela, among others.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) were directed to issue a policy to ensure that all contact tracing applications are “interoperable,” Roque said.
A small working group was also created to study and formulate protocols for inbound international travel of fully vaccinated individuals, Roque said.
This will be headed by the Department of Tourism and co-headed by the Department of Foreign Affairs.