Manila allows 30% seating capacity at churches, mosques, chapels

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno has allowed churches, mosques and chapels to increase their authorized seating capacity from 10% to 30% for their religious gatherings.

The order was contained in Executive Order No. 41 that Moreno signed on Monday.

"Today, I will sign an executive order allowing 30% sa load capacity sa bahay sambahan o simbahan, from 10% to 30%," he said in a video posted on Twitter by Super Radyo dzBB's Isa-Avendaño Umali.

Moreno authorized the increase of seating capacity of religious gatherings “to promote not only the social and economic well-being“ of Manila residents but also their “spiritual well-being.”

“There is a need for the city to address the spiritual needs of its constituents,” Domagoso said in his executive order.

Church leaders, however, have to ensure that health and safety protocols will be strictly observed.

Among the minimum protocols are the wearing of face mask and face shield, and observance of physical distancing.

Under Moreno's executive order, only citizens aged 18 years old to 65 years old are allowed to attend religious gatherings. Minors are still not allowed to attend these gatherings.

The Philippines has started gradually easing restriction caused by the pandemic in order to spur economic activities.

As of October 18, the Philippines’ COVID-19 tally was at 356,618 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,379 new infections.

Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries soared to 310,158 after 14,941 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease. --KBK, GMA News