Churches in Metro Manila start opening

MANILA, Philippines — Some Catholic churches in Metro Manila have started opening their doors to the faithful who want to hear mass, although only 10 persons are allowed inside each of the structures.

Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church, said five masses are celebrated daily starting yesterday with only 10 persons allowed to attend each mass.

He noted that devotees have been cooperative with the health protocols of the church and the Department of Health (DOH), following social distancing measures wherever they are inside the church. They are also willing to spend a longer time queuing for their turn to enter the church.

The nearby Sta. Cruz Parish also posted on Facebook that it has opened its doors for physical masses, which is also limited to only 10 persons in every mass.

It said the faithful who cannot make it to the physical masses could still attend the online masses that are broadcast in its Facebook page.

Barriers to ensure social distancing were put in place in the churches that have started offering public masses. The faithful are required to pass by the disinfecting areas before they are allowed inside.

The “No face mask, no entry policy” is strictly observed.

Other Catholic churches in the metropolis, including the Archdiocese of Manila, have not yet signified their intention to resume public masses despite the go signal given to them by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Manila, said they could not yet resume their physical masses, as they cannot comply with the 10-person limit the IATF has set.

The church, he added, would continue with online or virtual masses.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through Pasig Bishop Hubert Mylo Vergara, attended the meeting with IATF on Monday where both religious groups and the task force have agreed to limit the number of attendees at religious gatherings.

It is not yet clear if Catholic churches in Pasig City have started celebrating public masses. Vergara and the priests of Pasig City have met with Mayor Vico Sotto virtually and discussed the setup of church gatherings in the city.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said local church leaders and barangay officials should coordinate with one another in the proper implementation of IATF guidelines and health protocols during religious gatherings.