ILOILO City – People can visit their departed loved ones in cemeteries in this southern city on Undas, albeit with a few restrictions.
Only individuals vaccinated (either with one or two doses) against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would be allowed entry, according to Jeck Conlu, COVID team spokesperson and head of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO).
Visitors must present their identification and vaccination cards at entrances manned by personnel of the Philippine National Police, PSTMO and safety officers, Conlu said.
The cemetery visit will be from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.
Also, visitors will be allowed at 50 percent capacity of the cemetery – public or private – at a time, said Conlu.
An inventory of each cemetery’s capacity is ongoing.
Iloilo City has 18 public and private cemeteries.
Conlu said eating in the cemetery as well as drinking liquor, gambling and other activities will be prohibited.
onlu also said they are finalizing the guidelines for flower and candle vendors .
Unlike the years before the pandemic, Conlu said, they will not implement traffic rerouting this year since they are limiting the number of cemetery visitors.
Dr. Annabelle Tang of the City Health Office added that the minimum public health standards inside every cemetery must be observed.
Meanwhile, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will also preposition resources for emergency response, activate its Emergency Operations Center and Task Force Kala-Kalag 2021, among others, during the four-day cemetery visit./PN
