THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) wants Mayor Edgardo Labella to reconsider his decision not to require quarantine passes from those attending the nine-day Misa de Gallo starting Dec. 16, 2020.
Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, CCPO’s deputy director for operations, told Superbalita Cebu that the Q-passes are necessary to help control the number of people going out of their homes to attend masses at dawn.
Labella earlier said in a press conference on Monday that he will not require massgoers to bring their Q-passes when attending dawn masses from Dec. 16 to 24.
Labella’s announcement did not sit well with police authorities.
Parilla said although Cebu City is now under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), requiring massgoers to bring their Q-passes would be a precaution against the resurgence of Covid-19 in the city.
“For the PNP, our stand is that the quarantine pass is still needed, although we are on MGCQ,” Parilla said.
Aside from requiring massgoers to bring their Q-passes, Parilla also asked the City to allow parishes to hold two Misas de Gallo per day to prevent crowding in churches.
Parilla said these measures are necessary so that local police can control the number of people going in and out of the churches.
Parilla said personnel from the Police Regional Office Central Visayas’ (PRO 7) Crisis Response Management Battalion will assist the CCPO in securing churches.
Lapu-Lapu City
In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Junard Chan has issued an executive order (EO) allowing minors below 15 years old and senior citizens above 65 to attend the Misa de Gallo in the city.
Chan said he is allowing them to attend the nine-day dawn masses provided that minimum health protocols are followed.
Those below 15 years old must also be accompanied by their parents or guardian.
Chan advised parents not to bring infants and toddlers to the Misa de Gallo.
“The administration of all Catholic churches in the city are requested to install ‘no mask, no entry’ signages in all entrances for the guidance and information of all churchgoers,” read part of the mayor’s EO.
Chan also ordered the local police to arrest anyone seen not wearing a face mask or not wearing the mask properly.
Administrators of Catholic churches in Lapu-Lapu City were ordered by Chan to accommodate only 50 percent of their maximum capacity to minimize the number of people gathered inside the churches.
Aside from allowing minors and senior citizens to attend the Misa de Gallo, Chan also adjusted the city’s curfew hours.
From Dec. 16 to 24, curfew hours in the city will be from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. instead of the current 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Covered courts
In Danao City, officials said aside from churches, covered courts will serve as venues for Misa de Gallo as a precautionary measure to prevent mass gatherings.
Danao City Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III has yet to finalize other policies relating to the dawn masses.
Last week, the Danao City Government invited church officials to a meeting to discuss measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Church officials agreed to hold Misa de Gallo in covered courts to avoid crowding the parishes.
Danao City barangays with parish churches are Poblacion, Manghilao, Taytay, Maslog, Guinsay, Ibo and Lawaan, while barangays in the city with their own covered courts are Looc, Suba, Guinacot, Cogon Cruz, Masaba, Cahumayan, Portland, Mantija, Sandayung, Malapoc, Quisol, Binaliw, Cambanay, Tugunon, Sta. Rosa, Cabungahan, Baliang, Licos, Danasan and Magtagobtob.
While local and church officials have agreed to hold masses in covered courts, they have yet to agree whether or not to allow minors and senior citizens to attend the dawn masses.
Danao City currently prohibits minors and senior citizens from going out of their homes unless for tourism purposes.
Mandaue City
An additional 120 policemen will be assigned at the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) as augmentation force this Christmas season.
PMaj. Luis Alama, chief of MCPO’s Police Community Affairs Development Branch, said the additional cops from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion will arrive in Mandaue this week.
He said the deployment is timely considering that Misa de Gallo is only a few days away.
With the additional personnel, there will be more police visibility and the public will be more cautious in following the health protocols in public places, Alama said.
Alama said 15 percent of MCPO policemen will be stationed at the office while 85 percent will be out on field which includes the city’s 16 border control points, malls and roving mobile cars.
‘Ampo, Amping’
Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma said the Church will respect the guidelines set by the different local government units in Cebu.
Palma said in many ways, attending Misa de Gallo is considered a religious expression and an essential service.
Palma welcomed Lapu-Lapu City’s decision to allow those above 65 years old to attend Misa de Gallo.
“I’m very happy to be able to receive the leeway for those who are a little bit older because they are also the people who care for themselves,” said Palma.
He encouraged the faithful to pray and to always be careful.
“Ampo. Amping,” said Palma. (AYB, REV / JKV, ANV / JKV, KFD)