(PNA file photo)
MANILA – Churches and other religious gatherings in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas are allowed up to 30 percent capacity of their venues.
Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced on Friday the correction of an oversight in official rules regarding the seating capacity for religious gatherings.
“At its regular meeting yesterday (Thursday), the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), with the full support of the Metro Manila mayors, granted the request of the churches to allow religious gatherings up to 30 percent of venue capacity in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus and other areas under the heightened GCQ until May 31, 2021,” Guevarra told newsmen.
Under the previous modified enhanced community quarantine rules, religious gatherings were allowed a maximum 10-percent seating capacity in NCR Plus (Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan) and up to 30 percent if the local government unit will allow it.
When the NCR Plus quarantine classification was downgraded to GCQ, the allowable seating capacity should be at least 30 percent while it is 50 percent in modified GCQ, the least restrictive status.
However, the rules that immediately followed pegged GCQ seating capacity still at 10 percent.
Guevarra said the oversight was noted by certain church groups and NCR mayors.
He ordered the technical working group to review the resolution and submit its recommendation to the IATF.
Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Abra in the Cordillera region; Cagayan province, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya in the Cagayan Valley region; Batangas and Quezon in Calabarzon; Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Iligan City, Isabela; Davao City; and Lanao del Sur province are also under GCQ for the entire month. (PNA)
