MANILA – Millions of Filipinos will have to reschedule their visits to the cemetery this coming day of the dead. Malacañang is shutting all public and private cemeteries and columbaries across the country from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this decision aims to avoid massive gatherings that increase the risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission.
From Sept. 17 to Nov. 15 excluding the aforementioned dates, Roque said cemeteries are open but only with a limited capacity of 30 percent.
“Pwede naman po tayo dumalaw bago isara at matapos isara ang mga sementeryo pero 30 percent nga po ang capacity, kinakailangan [magsuot ng] facemasks at face shields,” he said.
Roque added the elderly and children will be allowed to visit cemeteries during this time.
Millions in this predominantly Catholic country throng cemeteries on All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2), which Filipinos traditionally mark by visiting the tombs of their dear departed.
In Western Visayas, local chief executives of Iloilo City and Negros Occidental already imposed temporary closure of cemeteries prior to the national government’s announcement as a strategic tactic to control the spread of COVID-19.
Mayor Jerry Treñas’ executive order on the cemetery closure 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, however, may be lifted if the city records no COVID-19 cases.
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
Iloilo City is currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Gov. Eugenio Lacson, for his part, directed all component cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental to comply with his directive through their respective disaster risk reduction and management offices and traffic management authorities with the assistance of the Philippine National Police and their force multipliers.
Lacson’s province also remains under MGCQ until Sept. 30.
Antique’s Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, however, was apprehensive of this measure.
The national government, stressed Cadiao, should allow local government units to decide on the closure of cemeteries during “Undas.”
“Kon mag-compose sang isa ka order please take into consideration the dynamics of every province. Sa Antique wara tana naga-crowd ang mga tawo sa mga sementeryo, even if we put them together,” the governor said in a previous statement.
Father Angelo Colada, director of the Archdiocese of Jaro’s Commission on Social Communications, earlier said prayers is what’s essential on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and this need not be done in the cemetery.
“We go back sa real liturgy. We always pray for the dead. Nagadumdom kita. The best way is to pray bisan dira sa aton puloy-an. Puede man maka-access kita sa simbahan kay wala man naga-close ang simbahan,” Colada told Panay News./PN