IATF allows church gatherings up to 30 pct capacity in NCR Plus

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/05/21/20140101-covid-prayer-manila-cathedral-gc-6796.jpg"/><figcaption>Priests of the archdiocese of Manila gathered to pray for the thousands of lives lost due to COVID19 during a holy mass led by Manila Apostolic administrator Broderick Pabillo inside the Manila Cathedral on May 8, 2021. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The inter-agency task force leading the country&#x27;s COVID-19 response has raised the cap on religious gatherings in Metro Manila and surrounding Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal provinces, until the end of May, a member of the body said on Friday. </p><p>The IATF previously set the cap for religious gatherings at 10 percent of a venue capacity in the NCR Plus area, home to about 24 million people, which is under general community quarantine with &quot;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/13/21/duterte-approves-ncr-plus-shift-to-gcq-with-heightened-restrictions">heightened restrictions</a>&quot; until May 31. </p><p>In a meeting on Thursday, the IATF allowed religious to fill up to 30 percent of a venue&#x27;s capacity in NCR Plus until the end of the month, said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, a member of the task force. <br/> <br/>Malacañang and IATF spokesman Harry Roque confirmed the IATF issued a resolution for the 30-percent cap on religious gatherings. </p><p>&quot;Pero iyan po ay pinaubaya sa mga lokal na pamahalaan,&quot; he said in a televised public briefing. &quot;Kinakailangan ang mag-authorize ng 30 percent ay mga lokal na pamahalaan.&quot; </p><p>(That was left up to the local governments. Local governments need to authorize the 30-percent limit.) </p><p>The Metro Manila Council, where the 17 mayors of the capital region belong, has allowed religious gatherings at 30-percent venue capacity, he noted. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/23/21/catholic-priests-in-ph-turn-tiktok-into-virtual-pulpit">Catholic priests in PH turn TikTok into virtual pulpit</a></li></ul><p>With around 1.6 million COVID-19 cases and19,641 deaths, the Philippines has the second highest of tally of coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/infographic/03/17/20/tracking-covid-19-cases-in-the-philippines">Tracking COVID-19 cases in the Philippines</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/20/21/ph-govt-monitoring-areas-outside-ncr-plus-that-registered-rise-in-covid-19-cases">PH gov&#x27;t monitoring areas outside &#x27;NCR Plus&#x27; that registered rise in COVID-19 cases</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1689622" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The inter-agency task force leading the country's COVID-19 response has raised the cap on religious gatherings in Metro Manila and surrounding Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal provinces, until the end of May, a member of the body said on Friday. </p>

The inter-agency task force leading the country's COVID-19 response has raised the cap on religious gatherings in Metro Manila and surrounding Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal provinces, until the end of May, a member of the body said on Friday.

IATF allows church gatherings up to 30 pct capacity in NCR Plus | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

IATF allows church gatherings up to 30 pct capacity in NCR Plus

IATF allows church gatherings up to 30 pct capacity in NCR Plus

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2021 11:15 AM PHT

|

Updated May 21, 2021 01:29 PM PHT

Read More:

IATF

NCR Plus

IATF religious gatherings

COVID

coronavirus

COVID Philippines

COVID surge

COVID quarantine

COVID updates

COVID latest Philippines

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.