BREAKING: Work gatherings, religious activities still prohibited in GCQ areas

MANILA, Philippines — Work gatherings and religious activities will remain prohibited in areas under general community quarantine, Malacañang said Friday.

“Nabago ang guidelines, bumalik tayo sa doon sa rules under ECQ, bawal pa rin po ang work gatherings, at bawal pa rin po ang pagtitipon for religious activities maski sa ilalim ng GCQ,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said over the phone during the Laging Handa press briefing.

Local officials earlier expressed concern over the resumption of religious activities saying it might defeat the purpose of preventing the spread of the coronavirus, Roque said.

He said this prompted the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to review its policies anew.

Roque said the IATF consulted with different faiths and they, as well, agreed that public health should be prioritized amid the pandemic.

“Nagkaroon naman po ng impormasyon na nakonsulta na po natin mula kahapon hanggang ngayon ang halos lahat po ng relihiyo— ang mga Muslim, mga Kristiyano, Protestante, Iglesia ni Cristo, lahat halos ho nakonsulta na at sang-ayon naman po sila na kinakailangan pangalagaan muna ang kalusugan ng mga nananampalataya,” Roque said.

(There was a consultation to almost all religions— the Muslim, Christians, Protestants, Iglesia ni Cristo, almost all were consulted and they agree that health of the faithfuls should be taken cared of.)

“So sang-ayon po sila na ‘wag muna ituloy ang mga religious meetings habang tayo po ay merong GCQ,” he added.

(They agreed not to proceed with the religious meetings while the GCQ is in place.)

Low-risk areas for the coronavirus transmission were placed under a “new normal” or GCQ starting Friday where some restrictions were relaxed.

Several businesses like manufacturing and partial reopening of malls are allowed under GCQ, excluding those involved in leisure and entertainment.

EDV