Metro Manila will not be allowed to have Christmas parties for the first time this year. This is after city mayors have agreed to place the entire region under general quarantine until the end of the year, as a safety precaution against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The holiday season this year is just right around the bend, but Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Vice Chairman of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) believes the country is not yet ready for gatherings such as Christmas parties due to the continuous rise of coronavirus cases in the PH.

"Under GCQ, bawal pa ang parties. Ang ating NCR (National Capital Region), nagkasundo 'yung ating mayors na under GCQ muna tayo, magluluwag lang para makasuporta sa ekonomiya pero hindi muna mag-MGCQ (modified GCQ). Konting tiis na lang ito," Año said on Monday, October 19.

Also, the Interior Secretary Año said the mayors have agreed to allow churches to open at 30% capacity as Christmas season nears.

"Pero bawal po talaga ang Christmas party. Hindi papayagan 'yung Christmas party habang ganito po 'yung ating sitwasyon," Año said during their meeting with Duterte on Monday night.

Año also told Duterte that local government units support the reopening of the economy, he stated that Metro Manila mayors, except Navotas City, have adjusted their curfew hours from 12 AM to 4 AM.

In an earlier statement of Metro Manila Council (MMC) head and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Navotas City’s curfew will remain from 8 PM to 5 AM.

“COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila are decreasing, but we cannot relax so we’re intensifying our minimum health protocols and our critical care in hospitals all over the region,” Olivarez said.

While Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco, said that Navotas — which currently has 110 active COVID-19 cases, needs more time before it eases curfew restrictions.

“We’re just keeping it safe. Our restrictions’ end goal is to loosen it later on. But we will loosen up little by little. We don’t want it abruptly and think, for Navotas, it is not yet the time,” Tiangco said in his previous interview.

Here are the other changes for the holiday season this year:

• Places under GCQ should not allow more than 10 people in any gathering until the end of 2020.
• Since Christmas parties are not allowed, virtual parties are highly recommended as alternative for both public and private sectors.
• Government employees caught violating the rule on Christmas gatherings will be suspended, and businesses who will not comply will be ordered closed by the Government.
• Caroling will be allowed this year with no more than 10 members until midnight, but only for ages 18-65 years old.

Persons aged 18 to 65 years old will be allowed to go outside in areas under GCQ.

While in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), ages 15 to 65 years old will be allowed to go outside of their homes.