Paco Church cancels public masses, points to gov't's changing policies

The Paco Church in Manila has canceled its public masses scheduled on September 8 and in the coming Sundays after the Palace's announcement that the National Capital Region had been reverted to a modified enhanced community quarantine.

In a Facebook post, the San Fernando de Dilao Parish in Paco used the advisory to come up with own comments on the change a day after the government announced that Metro Manila would be under a less stringent general community quarantine even with granular lockdowns.

"Dahil po sa pabago-bagong desisyon ng gobyerno, hindi na muna matutuloy ang mga pampublikong misa natin bukas, September 8, at sa mga susunod na Linggo hanggang sa maging maayos po ang desisyon ng IATF," the parish's statement read.

[Due to the changing policies of the government, we will not hold our public masses on September 8 and on the coming Sundays until the IATF comes up with a proper decision.]

Catholics celebrate September 8 as the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

Malacanang on Tuesday announced that the National Capital Region shall remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until September 15, 2021, or until the pilot general community quarantine with alert level system is implemented.

In a statement, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has deferred the pilot implementation of the GCQ with alert levels system in Metro Manila.

Indoor and al-fresco dine-in services, and personal care services including beauty salons, beauty parlors and nail spas shall remain prohibited.

Only religious services performed through online video recording and transmission shall be allowed.

Immediate family members are allowed to attend necrological services, wakes, inurnment and funerals as long as the deceased died of non-COVID-19 causes. -NB, GMA News