CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is planning to ease the restrictions earlier imposed on churches when the province was still under higher alert levels due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) now that the Lenten Season has already started.Holy Week is approaching and Garcia is eyeing to bring back church activities such as Visita Iglesia, the religious procession and “Sugat,” which depicts Christ’s resurrection. Cebuanos were deprived of these religious activities in the past two years because of restrictions and high numbers of Covid-19 cases during Holy Week in 2020 and 2021.The 40-day Lent started last March 2, also known as Ash Wednesday, and it will end on April 14. Easter takes place on April 16.Latest data from the Department of Health Central Visayas shows that there were only 540 active cases on March 3.With this development, Garcia said she will meet with the officials of the Archdiocese of Cebu to come up with guidelines that will be implemented in churches during Lent.“I believe, in light of all of this, we too must be able to adapt our guidelines, especially insofar as the coming Holy Week activities are concerned,” Garcia told reporters.The governor, however, did not elaborate on her statement as she still has to consult Catholic church officials.“I speak not because I wish to meddle with the affairs of the Church. But I speak from the viewpoint of a governor who has always valued 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 Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in March 2020, several church activities were prohibited, especially those that attract crowds.Due to the pandemic, the town of Minglanilla, known as the “Sugat Capital of Cebu,” has not celebrated the Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival for the past two years. (ANV, TPT)