‘Dahil sa pabago-bagong desisyon ng gobyerno’: Churches throw shade on social media after MECQ was extended in Metro Manila

Several churches in Metro Manila went viral on social media over their statements announcing the cancellation of public masses that referenced the government's last-minute flip-flopping on the lockdown announcement.

After Malacanang initially announced that Metro Manila will be under the less stricter General Community Quarantine (GCQ) starting Sept. 8, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) postponed Tuesday night, Sept. 7, the GCQ implementation and instead extended the current modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), which has more restrictions for operations of businesses.

The IATF announced MECQ “shall be maintained until Sept. 15, 2021, or until the pilot GCQ with Alert Level System is implemented, whichever comes first.”

BREAKING: Metro Manila remains under MECQ until September 15, 2021 after the IATF deferred the implementation of GCQ with alert levels system in NCR, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque. | @helenmflores pic.twitter.com/zgJ5M4LzKU

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) September 7, 2021

The sudden announcement of the MECQ extension in Metro Manila resulted in several churches announcing the changes in mass schedules that hinted at their exasperation.

“Dahil po sa pabago-bagong desisyon ng gobyerno, hindi po muna matutuloy ang pampublikong misa natin bukas,” Paco Church said on Facebook. 

The church’s announcement has over 19,000 reactions, as of this writing.

San Antonio de Padua Parish Church in Cubao also advised parishioners that masses, including the supposed Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary mass today, will stay virtual.

“Lumaban po kahapon, pero binawi po ngayon. Dahil po sa pabago-bagong desisyon ng gobyerno, hindi po muna matutuloy ang mga pampublikong misa sa ating parokya bukas,” the post read.

There were similar posts from Basilica Minore de San Pedro Bautista in Quezon City and Mary Comforter of the Afflicted Parish in Pasay City as well. 

In a statement by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, religious gatherings are prohibited under MECQ. It is only allowed at 10% capacity under GCQ with heightened restrictions. 

Meanwhile, religious gatherings are allowed up to 30% of the venue capacity under normal GCQ.