Gwen plans to ease restrictions on church activities

CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia plans to ease restrictions previously imposed on churches when the province was still under higher alert levels due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) now that the season of Lent has already begun.

Holy Week is approaching and Garcia plans to bring back church activities such as Visita Iglesia, the religious procession and “Sugat”, which depicts the resurrection of Christ. Cebuanos have been deprived of these religious activities for the past two years due to restrictions and the high number of Covid-19 cases during Holy Week in 2020 and 2021.

The 40-day Lent began on March 2, also known as Ash Wednesday, and will end on April 14. Easter takes place on April 16.

The latest data from the Central Visayas Department of Health shows there were only 540 active cases on March 3.

With this development, Garcia said she will meet with officials from the Archdiocese of Cebu to come up with guidelines that will be implemented in churches during Lent.

“I think in light of all of this, we also need to be able to adapt our guidelines, especially when it comes to upcoming Holy Week activities,” Garcia told reporters.

The governor, however, did not elaborate on her statement as she has yet to consult with Catholic church officials.

“I don’t talk because I want to meddle in Church affairs. But I speak from the perspective of a governor who has always appreciated our custom, our tradition, our heritage and the activities that are part of the observance of Holy Week,” Garcia said.

It can be recalled that when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in March 2020, several ecclesiastical activities were banned, especially those that attract large crowds.

Due to the pandemic, Minglanilla City, known as the “Sugat Capital of Cebu”, has not held the Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival for the past two years. (ANV, TPT)