BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City government is preparing public cemeteries for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day by scheduling cleanup operations, designating vending areas and deploying enforcement personnel to maintain peace and order during Undas 2026.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo said the preparations were discussed during an inter-agency meeting on October 20, following the instructions of Mayor Greg Gasataya.
One of the city’s priorities is to regulate vendors selling flowers, candles and other items commonly purchased by cemetery visitors.
On October 21, the Mayor’s Office requested the Sangguniang Panlungsod to designate vending areas, retaining the locations used during last year’s observance.
These include portions of Gonzaga and San Juan streets near Bacolod Public Plaza; the parking area beside Burgos Market, from Hilado Street to Ramos Street; Mabini Street in front of a fast-food establishment; portions of Hernaez Street near Libertad Market; and designated areas within and around Handumanan Cemetery in Barangay Handumanan and Granada Cemetery in Barangay Granada.
Vendors will be required to secure special permits once the designated areas are approved. Mayo warned that enforcement teams would strictly monitor compliance with the city’s regulations.
The city’s Undas observance period is scheduled from October 29 to November 2.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office and the General Services Office will conduct clearing and cleaning operations at public cemeteries ahead of the expected influx of visitors.
Traffic restrictions will also be implemented near Bacolod North Public Cemetery, also known as Burgos Cemetery.
A half-road closure will be imposed along the road from Police Station 4 to the corner of Lopez Jaena Street. The Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department will implement a full road closure on November 1 and 2, depending on traffic conditions and the volume of visitors.
No road closures are currently anticipated at the other identified cemetery areas.
Executive Assistant Levy Pague, focal person of the City Legal Office Enforcement Team, said personnel would be deployed to assist visitors and regulate vendors, particularly those whose stalls obstruct roads and pedestrian passageways.
The city learned from last year’s experience, when overcrowded vending areas made it difficult for visitors to reach their relatives’ burial sites, Pague said.
The enforcement team will deploy four personnel to Granada Cemetery, 10 to Burgos Cemetery and another 10 to Sum-ag Cemetery. A larger deployment is planned for Handumanan Cemetery because of the expected number of visitors.
The city government said the measures aim to keep cemeteries clean, accessible and orderly while allowing vendors to conduct their seasonal businesses in authorized areas./PN
