Religious Gatherings Allowed In Areas Under GCQ and MGCQ, But...
...there's a limit on the number of people.
by James Patrick Anarcon
May 30, 2020
Religious gatherings will be allowed in areas under Modified General Community Quarantine as long as only half of the church or religious venue is occupied.
Photo/s: Courtesy of Jerome Ascano
Religious gatherings will be allowed in areas placed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
However, the number of people present at a church or any religious venue must occupy only half of the place.
This was the announcement made by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra today, May 30, after leading the dialogue between government and religious groups.
MGCQ is a relaxed form of the community quarantine, and is a step closer to the so-called "new normal," which is when community quarantine protocols may be fully lifted.
Meantime, areas placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ)—which include Metro Manila, Cebu City, and Davao City—can have religious gatherings with a maximum of 10 people present.
But this can still change, following the IATF dialogue with the religious sector and local government chiefs on Monday, June 1.
Guevarra says the national government task force will make its final decision on the same day.
Earlier today, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Emergence of Infectious Diseases released a list of the places that will come under MGCQ.
Starting June 1, 2020, these are the places under MGCQ:
LUZON
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): Abra, Apayao, Baguio, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province
Region 1: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Dagupan City
Region 4-B: Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawn, Puerto Princesa City
Region 5: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Legazpi City, Naga City
VISAYAS
Region 6: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Iloilo City, Baclod City
Region 8: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc City, Tacloban City
MINDANAO
Region 9: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Isabela City
Region 10: Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City
Region 11: Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental
Region 12: North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City
Region 13 (Caraga): Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Butuan City
Bangsamoro Autonomous Religion in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM): Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City
On June 1, 2020, these are the places under GCQ:
LUZON
Pangasinan
Region 2: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Santiago City
Region 3: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Angeles City, Olongapo City
Region 4-A: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Lucena City
Highly Urbanized Cities of NCR and the Municipality of Pateros
VISAYAS
Region 7: Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu Lapu City
MINDANAO
Zamboanga and Davao
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