(FILE) Devotees stop and pray as they pass by Quiapo Church in Manila and Baclaran church in Parañaque City on Good Friday. 📷:Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors have agreed to increase the venue capacity of religious gatherings up to 50% as they also eye the further relaxation of quarantine restrictions, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. said Thursday.
During a meeting on Wednesday, the local chief executives of Metro Manila agreed to support the slow and gradual reopening of the economy and to allow more activities, said Abalos.
This includes increasing the capacity of religious gatherings, which at present, is only allowed up to 30%.
“Sang-ayon ang mga alkalde kung ang opening ng simbahan ay aabot ng 50%,” he said in a Palace briefing.
(Mayors have agreed to reopen the church and religious gatherings up to 50% capacity.)
Abalos said he will bring these recommendations to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), which is set to meet on Thursday to discuss new quarantine classifications in June.
It will be up to IATF whether to allow the increase of capacity of religious gatherings.
Religious gatherings in Metro Manila are currently allowed up to 30% capacity.
Metro Manila is under general community quarantine (GCQ) with “heightened restrictions” until May 31.