Manila mayor OKs 10% church capacity

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Friday said he agreed with the Archdiocese of Manila’s decision to allow church capacity at 10 percent.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso

In a message to reporters, the local chief executive revealed his stance to allow 10-percent seating capacity in churches in Manila as proposed by Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

“Agree ako, (I agree),” he told reporters when asked about his reaction to the archdiocese decision to allow the 10-percent capacity, which was in contrast to InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases previous directive to ban religious gatherings.

The local government, however, said Pabillo agreed to cancel religious activities to commemorate Holy Week. Domagoso recently signed an executive order to suspend all Holy Week activities this year.

The Archdiocese of Manila also pledged for the full implementation of health protocols.

Domagoso, however, urged people to stay at home, noting that the local government’s page has been livestreaming the celebration of Masses through their social media platforms.

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church is one of the churches heeding the archdiocese’s directive.

Currently, only 100 churchgoers are allowed to enter the church’s premises, according to the church’s parochial vicar Fr. Douglas Badong.

The Manila Police has been strictly enforcing the allowed 10-percent capacity for the church. Those who do not make the 100-person cut-off are asked to leave the premises.