‘Simbang Gabi’ allowed in Iloilo under extended MGCQ

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

Iloilo province is expected to remain under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) for the month of December, with the same set of restrictions to be applied for the holidays, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said on Sunday.

In a phone interview with Daily Guardian, Defensor revealed he was informed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that the province is “most likely” to remain under MGCQ.

The governor, however, stopped short of confirming the retained MGCQ status, saying he would rather wait for an official announcement from the national Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

He added that there will be no significant changes in the current rules under the MGCQ, with Executive Order No. 183, as amended, will remain intact, and extended further for the new period.

These include the ban on public gatherings and the procedures for the repatriation of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF).

Defensor said, however, that he will issue an EO on Monday with slight changes in anticipation of the holiday season, although he did not specify what these changes were.

“Actually, there isn’t any need for changes because everything is there in [EO 183], but there are people asking, and because of those questions, I think it would be better if we had an issuance. I think it will also be better because I think [President Duterte] will announce tomorrow,” Defensor said.

He added that the holidays cannot be an exception to the provincial government’s continuing battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to the latest update by the Provincial Health Office as of 4 p.m. of Nov. 28, Iloilo has had a total of 2,673 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 11 new cases, and a total of 79 deaths.

“We need to continue with what we are doing. We cannot make the holidays an issue for exception. If we loosen restrictions, we will go into January with greater risks. If we change our attitude because of Christmas, we might even return to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine,” the governor added.

The governor clarified that the traditional Simbang Gabi from Dec. 16 to 25 will be allowed under the current regulations on religious congregations.

Religious congregations and government meetings are exceptions to public gathering rules, although with limits on venue capacity.

“[Simbang Gabi] will be allowed, although we will still have limits as to how many people can enter the churches. We will still implement the limitations in our EOs and Ordinances,” the governor said.

The traditional Filipino masses leading up to Christmas usually start at 4 a.m. and at 8 p.m.

They would have to find new hours during the pandemic, however, as Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-220 sets curfew hours from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. amid the pandemic.