PR
The Joint Task Force COVID Shield expressed support on the proposals to ban caroling for the Yuletide season, citing the danger of coronavirus infection especially for children who may be encouraged to go out if any Local Government Unit (LGU) would allow it.
Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, commander of the JTF COVID Shield, said they are currently waiting for the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) with regard to this proposal.
“Caroling has always been part of the Filipino tradition, I believe each and every one of us has his or her funny and meaningful stories of caroling especially when we were children. This is what makes the Christmas of every Filipino memorable and exciting one,” said PLt. Gen. Eleazar.
“But the situation is currently different. We are facing a serious threat of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and we in the JTF COVID Shield believe that it is in the health interest of everybody if we could just stay home and enjoy the Yuletide season with our family,” he added.
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) Eduardo Año, who is the Vice Chairman of the National Task Force on COVID-19, also supports the caroling ban this year.
“Based on studies and statistics, the spread of COVID-19 is more likely to occur in mass singing like choir and caroling because singers have to remove their masks as they sing and viruses are released through aerosols,” said SILG Año.
SILG Año said he would recommend the ban on caroling nationwide.
In coordination with Philippine National Police Chief General Camilo Pancraitus Cascolan, PLt. Gen. Eleazar also instructed police commanders to coordinate with their respective Local Government Unit (LGUs) with regard to caroling.
If the caroling ban is approved, PLt. Gen. Eleazar encouraged the parents to explain to their children why there is a need to skip the traditional caroling at least for this year.
Children are considered as the most affected by the community quarantine rules since they could no longer do what they used to enjoy before the pandemic like going to school, playing with fellow kids and even going to the mall.
Caroling is a tradition and is usually what makes children excited about Christmas especially for those who live in the provinces.
