BY MAE SINGUAY AND DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – All public and private cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaries in this city and the province of Negros Occidental will be closed from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.
This aims to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Families of the departed are advised to visit cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaries ahead or after the closure, although visitors in Bacolod are allowed at 30 percent of the venue capacity.
Meanwhile, Lacson directed local chief executives to implement the order through their respective disaster risk reduction and management offices and traffic management authorities, with the assistance of the police and other force multipliers.
On the other hand, Leonardia said during the temporary closure, interment or burial services shall still be allowed.
But there should be stringent observance of the minimum health standards such as wearing of facemasks and shields and physical distancing, the mayor said.
Only the immediate family members of the deceased shall be allowed to attend interment or burial services, Leonardia added./PN
