Several dioceses across the Philippines have yet to resume the public celebration of religious activities as they await for guidelines from the government.
“We are still waiting for the advise of the government which is not that clear,” said Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao.
“On our part, it has been very clear. We will observe physical distancing. And if we have to add more Masses then we will,” said the prelate.
Bishop Joel Baylon of Legazpi said his diocese is still in the process of finalizing arrangements on the resumption of public Masses.
“We don’t have public Mass yet. We are just about to finalize things. We have only opened up the churches for clean-up and preparations,” he said.
Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the public affairs committee of the bishops’ conference, has earlier said church officials have already presented their proposed guidelines to the government.
“I think the [authorities] will thoroughly deliberate on the guidelines and hopefully come up with a decision that is favorable to all concerned parties,” said the priest.
In the Archdiocese of Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo cited the limits the government set on the number of people who can attend religious services for not holding public Masses.
“Mass with five people?” said the bishop.
The government has announced it will allow the holding of religious gatherings in areas under eased quarantine protocols.
Bishop Pabillo earlier said the limitations that the government set on religious activities are “unreasonable” and “laughable” because there are many big churches in the country.
