Church facilities in Legazpi offered for Covid-19 response

THE Diocese of Legazpi on Saturday, June 19, 2021, offered its establishments to serve as quarantine and isolation facilities for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients.

In a radio interview, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon said they were closely coordinating with local government units in the Bicol Region regarding the use of church facilities for Covid-19 response.

"Cases are really increasing here. It is already alarming because it wasn't like this before," Baylon said.

He said they have started reducing the number of religious activities and gatherings.

The Third Diocesan Pastoral Assembly (DPA3) has been deferred to August 6 and 7 from its original schedule of June 29 and 30.

"We are trying our best to observe as much as we could the social protocols that are supposed to be in place," he said.

"Once the government orders us to reduce our activities, the Church immediately does so," added Baylon.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) shows that there have been a total of 18,491 Covid-19 cases in Bicol Region, including 2,054 cases in the last 14 days.

Areas with the highest cases are Camarines Sur with 5,259, Albay with 4,491 and Sorsogon with 2,609.

In the last 14 days, these provinces had 475, 637 and 321 new cases, respectively. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)