Work and religious gatherings are now allowed to take place in areas under the general community quarantine, provided they adhere to strict preventive measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced yesterday that President Duterte has approved certain mass gatherings to take place in areas under the GCQ.
“Essential work gatherings and religious activities may continue so long as strict social distancing, as defined as the strict maintenance of at least two-meter distance between and among those attending,” Roque said, citing a recent Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases resolution.
“The mandatory wearing of face mask, face shield, and other facial protective equipment by attendees, is maintained during the entirety of the event,” he added.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said that attendees or participants of the gathering must undergo thermal scanning and observe proper hand sanitation before taking part.
For religious activities like masses, Año said it was now up to religious leaders how they will implement the guidelines.
He suggested adding more services to prevent people from crowding.
“So ma-satisfy nila ‘yung two-meter distance between worshippers,” he said.
Año, meanwhile, explained that IATF did not bother defining what a mass gathering is, or how many people would constitute a mass gathering because Filipinos will surely look for a way around it.
“Ang importante dito distansiya – two meters – at walang magkakasama, magkakatabi. Wala na tayong numero na pinag-uusapan dito,” he said.
President Duterte placed low-risk and moderate-risk areas in the country under the GCQ until May 15.
Meanwhile, high-risk areas like Metro Manila, Central Luzon (except Aurora), Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Pangasinan, Benguet, Iloilo, Cebu, Bacolod City, and Davao City are placed under the enhanced community quarantine.
Despite the decision of the IATF to allow public transportation under the GCQ, Año said jeepneys are still prohibited.
“Magkakaharap ‘yung mga tao diyan. ‘Pag lumabas ang isang pasahero, mabubugahan niya lahat ng dadaanan niya,” he said.
For buses, Año said it can only transport half of its full capacity to ensure physical distancing.
“Kung 50 ang kanyang capacity, 25 lang nag makakasakay doon at gagawan nila ng paraan na alternate ang pag-upo ng mga pasahero,” he said.
For taxis and other public utility vehicles, Año said the Department of Transportation will issue guidelines for them.
Año said that public transportations should ensure a one-meter distance between passengers. They should also implement other preventive measures like thermal scanning, hand sanitation, and the mandatory wearing of facial protective equipment.
He added that officials of the Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Office, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, will work together to ensure that these guidelines are strictly implemented. (Argyll Geducos)