DILG, AFP urge Muslim Filipinos to celebrate Eid'l Fitr at home

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday urged Filipino Muslims to celebrate Eid'l Fitr at home amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019.

“To ensure the safety of your families and communities, the government enjoins that Eid prayers and festivity be observed in your homes to prevent mass gatherings as our fight against COVID-19 continues,” Secretary Eduardo Año said in an advisory.

“May you continue to practice discipline which is an important virtue in observing quarantine protocols and safety health measures for common good,” he added.

According to Año, the directive applies to all local government units.

“Prevention is always better than cure but yet there is no proven cure and vaccine of COVID-19 as of now. Kaya sa ngayon, konting sakripisyo’t disiplina pa po para sa kaligtasan ng nakararami,” he said.

According to DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, they may tune in to IBC TV 13 or 15 which will air an Eid prayer and sermon on Sunday from 7 to 8 a.m.

Meanwhile, the AFP expressed hope that the coming celebration will give the public further strength against the virus.

"The AFP hopes that our people take this as an opportunity to draw from our sacrifices the motivation and determination to triumph over the challenges that we are facing today as a nation," the AFP said.

"May this also fortify the foundations of our faith and the importance of mutual respect and cooperation in this critical time," it added.

Both the DILG and the AFP said they would continue to work for the welfare and safety of Muslim Filipinos amid the COVID-19 threat.

Eid'l Fitr will be observed on Sunday, May 24. President Rodrigo Duterte has also declared May 25 as a regular holiday in observance of the Feast of Ramadan. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News