![Uy’s directive: Masks required anew in Oro](https://mindanaotoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Local-4-1.jpg)
Students cross the pedestrian lane on Luna St. in Cagayan de Oro in this recently taken photo. The city government has ordered the wearing of facemasks during the observance of the Holy Week as a measure to curb the number of Covid-19 cases. (Jigger Jerusalem | MT)
Mindanaotoday.com | Uy’s directive: Masks required anew in Oro
By: Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – “Minimum public health standards, which include hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and wearing of facemasks among others, shall be strictly implemented across all settings.”
This is Section 2 (6) of Executive Order No. 067-2023 that was issued by Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando Uy on Thursday (March 30) and set to be enforced during the Holy Week, starting Monday, April 3, until Sunday.
Uy’s directive came in the wake of 16 new coronavirus infections which the City Health Office reported on Wednesday (March 29), thus bringing Covid-19 patients to 171, and 98 of them still in hospitals.
Covered by the order are churches, places where devotees converge for prayers, processions, and station of the cross, beaches, resorts, and other places where the faithful celebrate Easter Sunday.
Aside from the MPHS compliance, E.O. No. 067 also ordered a ban on liquor, smoking and firearms at Malasag Hill in Cugman and at Guadalupe Shrine in Agusan – both places are frequented by Catholic devotees, penitents as well as local and foreign tourists.
Only those who are 15 years old and below 60 years old, without health issues, would be allowed entrance to these places, the Order states.
The Incident Management Team (IMT), composed City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department, City Police Office, Roads and Traffic Administration, Regulatory Compliance Board, and Task Force Oro have been tasked to enforce the Order.
Village leaders of Agusan, Balubal, Bayabas, Bonbon, Cugman, and Tablon as well as beach resort owners are to be involved in the enforcement of the Order, to ensure standby safety personnel, medical teams, and life guards.
The “General Guidelines in the Observance of the 2023 Holy Week from April 3-9, 2023” (E.O. 067-2023), however, does not include the bus terminals at Agora, Lapasan and in Bulua where hundreds of travelers take rides for days of holidays.
Holy Week rituals
Sunday’s blessing of palms which started 3:30 a.m. at the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral, followed by a mass and procession, was not also covered by E.O. 067-2023. Ten other masses were celebrated that day.
Aside from Palm Sunday, the Archdiocesan Social Communications Office posted last week on its Facebook wall the Holy Week activities at the Cathedral with the daily Station of the Cross at dawn starting Good Monday (April 3) until Good Friday (April 7).
Renewal of priestly vows is set 5:30 p.m. on Holy Tuesday, followed by a Chrism Mass.
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be on Maundy Thursday at 6 p.m., and then by the symbolic Washing of the Feet, Transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, and the Vigil of the Blessed Sacrament.
Good Friday activities shall open with an out-and-back procession at 5 a.m. from the Cathedral, passing through Fernandez, Corrales, Luna, Capistrano, Abellanosa, and Burgos Streets.
Reenactment of the Seven Last Words at 12 noon, Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3 p.m., and the Procession of Santo Entiero at 4 p.m. — this time a shorter route passing Fernandez, Corrales, Luna, and Capistrano Streets.
Easter Vigil, Blessing of the New Fire and Water, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, and Liturgy of the Eucharist would be at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 8.
Easter Sunday’s risen Christ’s encounter with His mother, Mary, popularly known in the Philippines as “Sugat,” would be at 4 a.m. on Sunday (April 9), the ceremonies would be held in front of the Archbishop’s House, beside the Cathedral which is situated at the dead-ends of Fernandez and Capistrano Streets. (MT)
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