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The Impact of COVID-19 on Church Gatherings in the Philippines: a Policy Analysis

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Church Gatherings in the Philippines: a Policy Analysis COMMENTARY The impact of COVID-19 on church gatherings in the Philippines: a policy analysis Grace Zurielle Malolosa, Joseph Christian Obnialb, Rena Mallillinc, Pamela Bianca Pascoa, Erika Onga, Arianne Andesd, Faith Ann Apate, Emma Teresa Carmela Aportaderab, Rafael Valenciaf and Don Eliseo III Lucero-Prisnog a College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines b Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines c Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health, Pasig City, Philippines d JONELTA Foundation School of Medicine, University of Perpetual Help Rizal, Las Piñas City, Philippines e Matias H. Aznar Memorial, College of Medicine, Cebu City, Philippines f University of the Philippines Diliman g Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom Abstract The Philippines is the largest Christian-majority country in Asia. With church gatherings playing a vital role in the nature of Christianity in the Filipino culture, the advent of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the Philippines posed challenges to public religious practices amid efforts to mitigate COVID-19 community transmission. Various policy pronouncements from both the government-led Inter- Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Diseases and the church-led Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) were issued. These guidelines were implemented in order to address the two-pronged problem on healthcare and religious obligations. While these guidelines were initially contributory to the mitigation of disease transmission, varied compliance by Filipinos was observed through the progression of the pandemic. Considering the value that church gatherings and religion play in the lives of the Filipino people, further studies on COVID-19 transmission in the church should be conducted in order to develop more efficient policies and guidelines on the practice of religion, particularly for religious gatherings. Furthermore, a more synergistic state and church cooperation must be encouraged in order to arrive at solutions that will mutually address the concomitant problems of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key words: COVID-19, Philippines, policy analysis, state and church cooperation July 2021. Christian Journal for Global Health 8(1) 54 Malolos, Obnial, Mallillin, et al. Introduction national trends in religious service attendance among The first confirmed cases of the coronavirus various countries indicated that the Philippines has a disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines were in high and stable religious service attendance, with January 2020.1 In the following months, the numbers attendance rates of Catholic church members escalated, rising second only to Indonesia in the reaching 84 percent and 80 percent during the late 7 Southeast Asian region, with 1,006,428 confirmed 1990s and early 2000s, respectively. cases by April 26, 2021.2 The continuous rise in the Faith plays a pivotal role in the life of most number of cases and the swift escalation of the Filipinos, existing not only as an abstract belief pandemic prompted the Philippine government to system but also as a host of ceremonies, rituals, and enact sweeping measures to curtail the spread of experiences. Religion provides continuity in life, COVID-19. By March 2020, community trans- cohesion in the community, and moral purpose for 8 mission was already evident, and the government existence. It renders spiritual solace and guidance announced community quarantine, or the lockdown in times of crisis, more so in the midst of a global 9 of the National Capital Region (NCR) and its pandemic. Even among the Filipino diaspora, the surrounding provinces. church remains vital in shaping migrant populations. The community quarantine restrictions For them, it functions as a means of social control, a resulted in the prohibition of many social activities, center of collective identity, and a source of 10 including religious gatherings. With the Philippines empowerment. being a largely Catholic country comprising 79.5 percent of its religious and Christian affiliation, Government Guidelines and Policies on restrictions on religious gatherings dealt a heavy Religious Gatherings 3 blow to a large aspect of Filipino life. In a survey The Philippine government responded by conducted in December 2019, 83 percent of adult calling together the Inter-agency Task Force on Filipino Catholics surveyed regarded religion as very Emerging Diseases (IATF), headed by the Secretary important to their lives, with 45 percent of the total of the Philippine Department of Health. Upon its respondents reporting to have attended religious recommendation, NCR was placed under “stringent 4 services weekly. Even with an ongoing pandemic, social distancing measures” on March 12, 2020.11 62 percent of respondents in a survey in May 2020 On March 16, 2020, a state of calamity was declared still want church gatherings to resume in areas under throughout the Philippines, and Enhanced 5 community quarantine. Therefore, it is imperative Community Quarantine (ECQ) was imposed in to review the policies instituted by both the Luzon with only essential services allowed to government and church authorities during the operate (e.g., groceries, utilities, etc.). As far as pandemic and examine the response of the Filipino religious activities were concerned, religious devout regarding their practice of religion amidst this ministers were only allowed to conduct funeral global health crisis. rites.11 Quarantine guidelines were modified and The Practice of Faith in the Philippines further consolidated with subsequent meetings of the Religion is central to the lives of Filipinos, as IATF, summarized in Table 1. On April 29, 2020, the Philippines ranks fifth among the most religious the first version of the Omnibus Guidelines on the countries globally.6 With over 79.5 percent of its Implementation of Community Quarantine in the population baptized as Catholics, it is the largest Philippines was released to “harmonize and codify Catholic nation in Asia. A comparison of cross- the existing policies.”12 Mass gatherings, with July 2021. Christian Journal for Global Health 8(1) 55 Malolos, Obnial, Mallillin, et al. explicit mention of religious gatherings, were General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).13 For prohibited for areas under ECQ and the less stringent MECQ, religious gatherings would be allowed but General Community Quarantine (GCQ).12 On May were limited to not more than five persons, and only 15, 2020, the conduct of GCQ was modified further, 50 percent of the seating capacity of the church was and additional guidelines were issued for two more permitted for MGCQ.13 Meanwhile, GCQ quarantine classifications—the Modified Enhanced restrictions were loosened to not more than 10 Community Quarantine (MECQ) and Modified persons allowed at religious gatherings. Table 1. The four levels of quarantine in the Philippines, from most stringent to the least. Category Restrictions on Religious Gatherings ECQ Religious gatherings are prohibited Only funeral rites allowed MECQ May 15, 2020 Not more than five persons allowed per religious gathering Apr 12, 2021 Until 10% seating capacity, with Local Government Units (LGUs) having the power to prohibit or increase it until 30% GCQ May 1, 2020 Same restrictions as ECQ on religious gatherings May 15, 2020 Not more than 10 persons per gathering July 2, 2020 Until 10% seating capacity or 10 persons October 22, 2020 Until 30% seating capacity February 15, 2021 Until 50% of the venue capacity March 22, 2021 Religious gatherings are prohibited Weddings, baptisms, funerals are limited to 10 persons MGCQ 50% of church seating capacity permitted Note: *The specific guidelines under each classification may change as the government sometimes revises policy. On July 2, 2020, restrictions on religious capacity.15 Additional provisions were added to the gatherings under GCQ were relaxed to allow up to IATF guidelines by December 2020, requiring the 10 percent of the seating capacity (or 10 people, use of face shields when leaving residences, whichever is higher). Churches were also officially including going to church.16 Starting February 15, allowed to reopen in July 2020 under the assumption 2021, the government permitted churches under that churches will only be used for the sole purpose GCQ to operate at up to 50 percent seating capacity, of religious services. Concomitantly, churches were just two days before Ash Wednesday, which signals required to observe minimum public health the beginning of the Lenten season.17 However, on standards, such as social distancing protocols and the March 22, 2021, a few days before the beginning of use of face masks, in conducting gatherings within Holy Week, the government completely prohibited their premises.14 religious gatherings due to a surge in active COVID- On October 22, 2020, restrictions were further 19 cases.18-20 relaxed to allow up to 30 percent of the seating July 2021. Christian Journal for Global Health 8(1) 56 Malolos, Obnial, Mallillin, et al. With mixed reactions by Catholic and social distancing with markers on pews and standing Protestant religious leaders,21,22 the government areas. Attendees were required to use face masks conceded to permit religious gatherings once a day during church services.30 Mass practices were also at 10 percent seating capacity by March 26, 2021.23 modified, such as the omission of the offertory However,
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