By Francis Allan L. Angelo
The Iloilo City government set restrictions to activities related to the observance of the Holy Week to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Mayor Jerry Treñas issued Executive Order No. 29-2021 on Monday which stipulated the protocols.
The EO set the maximum indoor seating capacity at 50% in churches and venues in the city. For this purpose, entrance to churches/venues is encouraged “via reservation to ensure that the 50% capacity limitation is complied with.”
No gatherings and conduct of religious activities shall be allowed outside the church and/or venue. To avoid aggregation of individuals outside the venues, the use of audio-video screens or public address systems outside the church/venue while the mass/worship service is being celebrated shall be prohibited;
Live singing, if any, shall be strictly limited. Recorded singing is encouraged.
Attendance through various online platforms is encouraged and religious congregations and denominations are to strictly implement the health protocols provided in relevant issuances such as the 1-meter physical distancing and the mandatory wearing of face masks, and immediate availability of hand hygiene necessities in the premises, among others.
Religious denominations are discouraged to conduct individual confessions and shall regulate the number and flow of people entering, attending, and departing from worship spaces to ensure safe distancing at all times.
Attendees should maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) of distance between people at all times and touching or kissing of devotional and other sacred objects that the community is accustomed to handling communally shall not be allowed. Worshippers are encouraged to perform their ritual ablutions at home.
Devotional processions usually conducted on Holy Week will not be allowed and these include among others, the “Via Crucis” on Fridays of Lent and within the days of the Holy Week; the “Pasos” on Holy Tuesday or Holy Wednesday: the “Visita Iglesia” on Holy Thursday; the “Santo Entierro”; the “La Soledad” processions on Good Friday; and the “Sugat” at dawn on Easter Sunday.
The blessing of religious articles would still be observed without a congregation of attendees. The religious sect is highly encouraged to collect and bless the religious articles before or after every mass celebration without gathering the attendees;
Home visitations by the “apostles” shall not be permitted but the Baptismal liturgy can also be done to either children or adults. However, the number of attendees must be limited up to 15 persons or shall only include immediate family within the first degree, whichever is lower.
Operations of beaches, resorts, waterparks, and game arcades conducting business in Iloilo City are temporarily suspended until 11:59 pm of April 4, 2021 or Easter Sunday to avoid crowding.
The EO also encouraged all private establishments to adopt alternative work arrangements.
Older workers or those that are immunocompromised or with comorbidities must be advised to work from home as much as possible.
Businesses or particular departments must exhaust all means to maintain as little manpower in the workplace as practicable. At all times, the number of workers in one area should be maintained so as to strictly observe physical distancing.
