(FILE) Sto. Niño Jesus. Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — In a move to further stem the surge of COVID-19 infection in Metro Manila and prevent possible deaths due to the virus, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday signed an executive order banning all mass gatherings during the Feast of Sto. Niňo that will be celebrated on January 16.
“I just signed Executive Order No. 4 series of 2022. Due to the current crisis brought by the spread of the Covid-19 virus — which is mainly attributed to close contact between and among individuals — religious procession, street parties, stage shows, parades, palarong kalye or street games, ati-atihan and other forms of public gatherings are hereby strictly prohibited,” Moreno announced during a press briefing at the Manila City Hall.
“Ito ay isa sa mga ating gagawin para patuloy na sama-sama nating labanan ang paglago ng COVID-19 at maiwasan natin na masawi ag ating mga kababayan,” the 47-year-old local chief executive said.
Moreno said the order affects almost 40 barangays in Pandacan, and almost 100 barangays in Tondo and reminded all barangay chiefs in the affected areas to strictly enforce the order.
Besides mass gatherings, Mayor Isko also announced that a liquor ban would be implemented in the covered areas and warned that traders who would be caught selling alcoholic beverages during the period will have their business licenses revoked by the city government.
“Wala pong inuman. May liquor ban sa araw na yaon at wala rin pong papayagan na magtinda ng alak. Binabalaan natin at pinapaalalahanan natin na lahat ng magtitinda ng alak sa araw na yon ay babawiin ng pamahalaan ng Lungsod ng Maynila ang pribilehiyo ninyong magtinda,” said Moreno.
“The Manila Police District is all ready to implement this order,” he added.
Moreno also urged Sto. Niño devotees to follow the example set by the devotees of the Black Nazarene and heed the call of the city government for their own safety and the safety of their families and communities.
“Kailangang-kailangan ko po ng tulong ng ating mga kababayan na sundin itong mga simpleng alituntunin na makatutulong mailigtas ang bawat iusa sa inyo at kaligtasan na rin ng inyong mga pamilya,” Moreno said.
He thanked the Sto. Niño Parish in Pandacan and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño in Tondo for prioritizing the health of devotees and cancelling in-person Holy Mass on the day of the feast of Sto. Niño.
Moreno urged devotees to just instead watch online live-streaming of the Holy Masses on the day of the feast and pray for the salvation of their families, the country, and the world from the clutches of Covid-19.
“Sa atin namang mga deboto ng Sto. Niño, ay magsama-sama na lang po tayo sa bahay, maghawak-hawak tayo ng kamay bilang pamilya, manatili tayong manalig at kumapit sa Diyos, at magdasal sa kapistahan ng ating mahal na Sto. Niño . At ipagdasal natin ang mga maysakit, ipagdasal natin ang mga pamilya natin, ipagpasalamat natin ang mga bagay na ipinagkaloob sa atin ng Diyos. Ipagdasal din natin na sana matapos na ang pandemyang ito sa ating lungsod, sa ating bansa, sa ating mundo,” Moreno said.