EOC allows dawn masses outside of parish churches

CEBU, Philippines — Holding Misa de Gallo outside the parish churches in Cebu City this year will be allowed by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

This was agreed during a meeting with the representatives of different parishes and the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Councilor Joel Garganera, EOC chief implementer, said Misa de Gallo may be held in auditoriums, gyms, chapels and any other open spaces provided that these were used for the same purpose before the pandemic.

“We never allowed masses (for MIsa de Gallo) outside the church last year. Right now we allow masses outside the church but those areas that have been doing masses even before the pandemic,” Garganera said.

Other areas that have not been holding Misa de Gallo in the past will have to seek clearance from the barangay. The barangay officials are obliged to inform the EOC, which shall have the final authority to approve it.

According to Garganera, all venues are only allowed 50 percent capacity. Church officials are also encouraged to only allow fully vaccinated individuals.

Meanwhile, churches have started to open its doors as “pop-up vaccination sites”.

Yesterday the San Pedro Calungsod Parish church in Barangay Pulangbato was able to vaccinate 810 individuals.

“It was really very successful in Pulangbato. The church is also very serious in making their flocks vaccinated,” said Garganera.

Aside from Pulangbato, the San Nicolas Parish in Barangay San Nicolas Proper and Don Bosco in Pasil have also expressed interest to in making their premises as pop up vaccination sites. — Decemay Padilla, FPL (FREEMAN)