By ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
It’s final.
After receiving numerous complaints from local government units, the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has backtracked and will now again ban mass gatherings in areas under the general community quarantine.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement after LGUs complained about IATF’s decision to allow religious and work gatherings under the GCQ, saying this ignores all efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“Alinsunod po sa mga reklamo na natanggap…Nabago na po ang guidelines, bumalik tayo sa doon sa rules under ECQ,” he announced over State-run PTV-4.
“Bawal pa rin po ang work gatherings, bawal pa rin po ang pagtitipon for religious activities, maski po sa ilalim tayo ng GCQ,” he added.
According to Roque, different religious organizations in the country agreed to suspend all of their services to protect the faithful.
“Nakonsulta na po natin mula kahapon hanggang ngayon ang halos lahat po ng relihiyon: Ang mga Muslim, mga Kristiyano, Protestante, Iglesia ni Cristo… Sang-ayon naman po sila na kinakailangan pangalagaan muna ang kalusugan ng mga nananampalataya,” he said.
The Palace official told the public that they have alternatives even if religious gatherings were prohibited anew.
“Halos lahat po ng pananampalataya ay nasa Internet, ‘di naman kaya sa radyo, telebisyon, o ‘di naman kaya sa personal sa ating Panginoon,” he added.
Roque had earlier asked religious organizations in areas under the GCQ not to hold services yesterday due to the complaints of LGUs. Roque said it was impossible for LGUs to implement strict social distancing in religious establishments.
Under IATF Resolution No. 30 released Thursday, religious and work gatherings were allowed as long as attendees of such events maintain a distance of two meters from one another, wear face masks, undergo thermal scanning prior to the event, and sanitize their hands.
Roque had advised religious organizations to make preparations to enable them to be ready and able to implement physical distancing once mass gatherings are allowed.
“Siguro po magkaroon din sila ng mga markers at tsaka paano yung pagpasok at paglabas. ‘Yung pagpasok at paglabas po magkakaroon din ng pagtabi-tabi maski iwasan natin,” Roque said.