DAWN MASSES. Undated photo shows parishioners observing physical distancing while participating in a Holy Mass at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Shrine in Cebu City. Although religious gatherings are allowed in a 50-percent capacity, Mayor Edgardo Labella on Monday (Nov. 23, 2020) said that the fate of the holding of pre-Christmas dawn masses or Misa de Gallo will depend on the decision of the IATF-EID. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – Mayor Edgardo Labella on Monday pushed for a study that would determine if the traditional nine-day pre-Christmas dawn masses or Misa de Gallo could still be held despite the existing curfew policy during the community quarantine period.
In a press conference, Labella said a study would reconcile the curfew policies of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the local government units (LGU).
Labella said he wanted to know if the city needs to amend the ordinance or executive order implementing curfew during the community quarantine just to accommodate the traditional dawn masses.
Curfew hours here are from 11 o’clock in the evening up to 4 a.m. the following day. The dawn masses usually start at 4 a.m.
“I don’t want to preempt. I may have my own position (on dawn masses) but it is always subject to the pronouncement of the IATF,” Labella said, adding that he wants to safeguard the health and lives of the churchgoers.
The mayor said he contacted a member of the IATF who told him to “wait a little few more days” as the national task force will be issuing a directive on the conduct of religious gatherings during the Christmas season.
He said churches and religious centers in the capital city are presently allowed to hold religious gatherings but only with a 50-percent venue capacity.
“I am just thankful that the Archdiocese of Cebu has been very compliant” with the executive order setting the limit of persons per venue,” Labella said.
He said big churches of the Roman Catholic Church here like the tourist site Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, the Metropolitan Cebu Cathedral, Sto. Rosario Parish under Fr. Joey Belciña are being monitored by the city.
He added that these big parishes are also compliant with the minimum health standards like the wearing of face mask, physical distancing, disinfection of church premises and sanitation of churchgoers, aside from the limit in the number of persons per activity in a venue. (PNA)
