BY ADRIAN STEWART CO AND GLENDA TAYONA
MANILA – Families can visit their departed loved ones as early as now. Just like last year, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) is closing down cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaria for “Undas.”
According to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Eduardo Año, the closure from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 aims to arrest coronavirus disease 2019’s (COVID-19) spread.
“Ang ating mga kababayan ay maaaring bumisita sa mga nasabing lugar anumang araw maliban sa nasabing panahon,” Año said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People aired in the wee hours of Wednesday.
On the allowable period, Año said visitors are limited to 10 persons per group, and the venue must be at 30 percent capacity.
Those under 18 and over 65 years old are prohibited entry.
Vaccination cards are also not required, according to IATF.
“The cemetery, memorial parks and columbaria capacity, however, can be raised to 50 percent if the local government unit authorizes it,” the DILG official told President Duterte.
Año further said the Philippine National Police, local government units and barangay officers will strictly enforce the minimum public health standards.
The DILG secretary also ordered LGUs to pass ordinances or executive orders to implement “Undas” measures.
Millions of Filipino Catholics typically offer prayers and flowers for their departed loved ones in cemeteries during All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2).
In Western Visayas, the local governments of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and Iloilo City have issued executive orders regarding the closure.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas encouraged residents to make their visit short. They are also prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages.
As early as Sunday, Ilonggos visited cemeteries.
Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., meanwhile, is yet to issue an executive order as of press time./PN
