Religious festivals to continue but with health measures —CBCP exec

The celebration of religious festivals in the country will proceed despite the quarantine protocols implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) official said Thursday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, CBCP Committee on Public Affairs Executive Secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano said religious festivals do not usually draw huge crowds unlike during the Holy Week.

“Kung mapapansin mo 'yung tinatawag na religious festivals natin katulad ng prusisyon ay nangyayari naman 'yan sa mga fiesta,” Secillano said.

“Halimbawa, fiesta sa Quiapo, merong prusisyon 'yan pero hindi naman 'yan 'yung tipong tinatao talaga ng napakarami unless, of course, kapag 'yan ay prusisyon ng Holy Week,” he added.

According to Secillano, the guidelines in conducting these festivals will depend on the discretion of parish priests who will consider the safety of the public during the celebration.

“Samakatuwid, itong period na ito na meron tayo na nasa general [o] enhanced community quarantine ay depende na rin ‘yan sa kura paroko kung paano nila ime-maintain 'yung social distancing, yung safety standards para maprotektahan natin ang taumbayan,” he said.

Based on the protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force, mass gatherings are not allowed under GCQ and modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)

The CBCP recently issued guidelines for liturgical celebrations in anticipation of the return of church ceremonies in light of the ‘new normal’ due to the health crisis.

Secillano is part of the technical working group that recommended that public religious celebrations be allowed under the modified ECQ in Metro Manila, provided that social distancing and other health protocols will be practiced.

The IATF has yet to decide on the matter. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News