Guevarra says IATF approved the 30% maximum capacity after oversight on “GCQ with heightened restrictions” guidelines
Updated: May 21, 2021
(Eagle News) — Religious gatherings in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal which are currently under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions protocol can be held up to 30 percent of a venue’s seating capacity.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced this saying that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved the earlier 30 percent of a venue’s seating capacity limit for such gatherings under the GCQ with heightened restrictions protocol.
The Department of Justice noticed that the maximum 30 percent capacity in religious gatherings was overlooked in the previous announcement.
The earlier announcement said that religious gatherings can only be held up to only 10 percent of a venue’s capacity in the NCR (National Capital Region) Plus areas.
-Plain oversight-
“It was just a case of plain oversight, I believe,” Guevarra earlier told media.
“Certain church groups and even the NCR mayors have noted this, so the TWG (technical working group) of the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) will review the resolution and submit its recommendation. I believe that this oversight will promptly be rectified,” he added.
On Friday, May 21, Guevarra said that the IATF approved this recommendation. This will be in effect until May 31.
In other GCQ areas, religious gatherings are also up to a 30 percent maximum of a venue’s capacity, and up to 50 percent in areas under the modified GCQ protocol.
Areas under GCQ are Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Abra in the Cordillera region; Cagayan province, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya in the Cagayan Valley region; Batangas and Quezon in Calabarzon; Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Iligan City, Isabela; Davao City; and Lanao del Sur province.
In all community quarantine protocols, adherence to minimum health protocols is a requirement amid the still raging COVID-19 pandemic.
(Eagle News Service)
