The Catholic Church in Bacolod City will hold virtual Holy Week activities to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Dr. Chris Sorongon, City Emergency Operations Centers deputy for medical data and analysis, said Monday, March 22.
Sorongon said the EOC team met with Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon three weeks ago and were informed that the Diocese of Bacolod will not be holding traditional processions and activities on Holy Week, instead everything will be virtual.
If there is a procession it will only the religious images that will be driven around the city but people will not be walking behind them, he said.
“We are very happy that the Diocese of Bacolod is very cooperative,” he said.
Holy Week is set in the first week of April.
Sorongon said on April 5 the EOC will also have a virtual meeting with the clergy because they will jointly campaign for the COVID-19 vaccination program. The clergy will also be updated on the COVID-19 situation in Bacolod, he added.
Meanwhile, Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Permanent Committee on Public Affairs (CBCP-PCPA), said the public can still perform their religious duties inside their houses by participating virtually.*