Isko to bring Simbang Gabi concerns to IATF

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Isko Moreno said he would raise before the Metro Manila Council the request of Catholic church leaders to increase the capacity for religious activities for the Simbang Gabi or pre-dawn masses.

During his Capital Report on Friday night, Moreno said the council, convened by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, would meet today on the church officials’ requests to ease quarantine restrictions ahead of the Christmas masses.

Moreno said he met with Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo in Sto. Nino de Tondo Church on Friday to discuss preparations for the Christmas pre-dawn masses as well as their request to increase the allowed number of churchgoers from 10 percent to 30 percent.

He declined to divulge more details ahead of today’s meeting between the Metro Manila Council and members of the Interagency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Moreno also said he would raise the request to ease the curfew to allow more churchgoers to attend the pre-dawn mass.

Pabillo had requested to end the curfew at 3:30 a.m. and for no curfew on Christmas Eve to allow people to go to mass.

Pabillo and Moreno also discussed preparations for religious feasts in Manila that annually draw huge crowds of devotees, but the mayor provided no details other than that city government respects the annual traditions.

The processions for the Feasts of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo and the Sto. Niño in Tondo, held annually in January, draw millions of devotees. They may be cancelled due to quarantine restrictions on physical distancing.