Labella bans Christmas caroling: Covid-19 is still very much around

Mayor Edgardo Labella has agreed to ban prohibit Christmas street caroling in Cebu City to avoid the further spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).

“In order to ensure that the city’s programs and measures to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 are maintained, the City of Cebu sees the need to impose a ban on street caroling within Cebu City within the period of community quarantine,” Labella’s Executive Order (EO) 104 read.

The EO defines caroler as “a person or group of persons who sing or dance to the tune of a song or music of praise or devotion heralding the birth of the Saviour on Christmas Day or any other tune whether for a charitable purpose, for a consideration or gratuitously. It includes persons furnishing music for the carolers.” (https://bit.ly/3eM312Y)

The mayor said caroling creates mass gathering as those who carol are often groups that go from house to house.

“If there is caroling, there will be a mass gathering. They will group together and go around, to go to houses, but this is something we have to avoid. I hope our carol singers will understand that, like our other traditions, we have to suspend this because we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Whether we like it or not, the virus is still very much around,” he furthered.

The city’s Emergency Operations Center and the Department of Health- 7 earlier pushed for the ban on Christmas caroling this year so as not to reverse the city’s progress in its fight against Covid-19.

https://visayas.politics.com.ph/labella-bans-xmas-caroling-covid-19-is-still-very-much-around/

DILG urges public to shift to online caroling

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday urged the public to shift to online caroling during the Christmas season, given the threat of COVID-19.

With proposals to ban the traditional house-to-house caroling likely to be approved, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said people should consider doing the activity online.

“If there would be caroling, probably go online instead,” he said in Filipino over Teleradyo.

Año said caroling would physically put people, especially children, at risk of contracting the disease.

The department chief said while measures have already been placed to contain COVID-19, the virus remains a threat.

“For now it’s not feasible because we have yet to flatten the curve,” Año said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has yet to come up with a resolution banning caroling, as recommended by local chief executives in Metro Manila.

The Philippine National Police, which has been implementing quarantine protocols, has backed the proposed ban.

Metro Manila mayors have agreed, as well, to ban caroling in Metro Manila this Christmas season, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager Jojo Garcia said yesterday.

The mayors came to the agreement during a virtual meeting Sunday, Garcia said.

Mayors agreed to ban caroling to avoid mass gatherings amid the pandemic, Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III and Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco both said.

The proposal will be forwarded to the IATF for its decision.

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire had backed the proposed ban after studies have shown that singing increases the risk of virus transmission.

The proposed ban also followed the mayors’ agreement to ban Christmas parties in the metropolis, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, even as quarantine restrictions had been eased.

Likewise, the Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) discouraged parishes and groups under it from holding Christmas parties to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

RCAM Chancellor Fr. Reginald Malicdem issued instructions to their clergy on the celebration of Advent, Simbang Gabi and Christmas, wherein it was mentioned that they are dissuading parishes, organizations and groups under their archdiocese from holding Christmas parties.

“We discourage parishes, communities and groups, in the RCAM from holding Christmas parties this year. We know that the gathering of people is an occasion usually prone to the spread of the virus,” said Malicdem. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Evelyn Macairan

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/11/2056028/dilg-urges-public-shift-online-caroling