ILOILO City – For the first time, cemeteries here will close on All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) which Ilonggos traditionally mark by visiting the graves of their dead kin.
Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered the closure of both public and private cemeteries on these dates to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The closure will actually start on Oct. 30 when people usually start cleaning tombs in preparation for the Nov. 1 and 2 observances.
Treñas’ executive order on the cemetery closure issued yesterday cited Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act). Local government units were mandated to “act within the letter and spirit of all rules, regulations and directives of the national government, and for them to fully cooperate in implementing policies” related to COVID-19
The closure order also covers columbaria or repositories of urns that contain the ashes of cremated dead people.
The closure order, however, may be lifted if the city records no COVID-19 cases.
Iloilo City is currently under modified general community quarantine.
Violators of the closure order face appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges for violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or city ordinances relating to the efforts of the city government and national government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The city government, through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, is overseeing three public cemeteries – the Tanza Public Cemetery; the one in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro district; and one in Barangay Jereos, La Paz district.
The Catholic Church also maintains cemeteries in the districts of Jaro, Mandurriao, La Paz, City Proper, and Arevalo.
There are also privately-managed cemeteries in the city – at least four located mostly in Jaro and Mandurriao./PN
