Social Distancing Was A “Big Challenge” For Reopening Quiapo Church, According To The Church Priest
A priest from the Quiapo church on Wednesday said social distancing was a big challenge for the church as the threat of COVID-19 was present in the area.
This, as Fr. Douglas Badong, Quiapo Church’s vicar, said that Quiapo church was always crowded even on weekdays before implementing the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF MEID) recently issued a resolution wherein the provinces, highly-urbanized cities, and independent component cities will be classified based on the area’s risk level starting May 16.
Metro Manila, according to IATF Resolution No. 35, will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 31, 2020. This means that the local government units in cities/municipalities will be allowed to declare the classification of its barangay based on its risk thresholds.
The IATF required the public to maintain social distancing for at least one meter in order to prevent the further spread of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
Fr. Douglas Badong said that three people per pew were allowed and parishioners would have to attend the Mass outside the Quiapo church which guided by marking in order to maintain the social distancing in the area. He also said that he hoped the coronavirus disease will disappear, adding that the Black Nazarene would grant it.
Meanwhile, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of Manila, stated that religious services were “essential” and encouraged the government to reconsider re-opening churches in the Philippines.
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