By John Clifford Lintao
INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año directed policemen to seal off all private and public cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbarium during the Undas holidays, not because he doesn’t want the dead to roam around and scaring everyone for the Halloween, but because that’s what the President wanted.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Año likewise reminded local government units that cemeteries are closed from October 29 to November 4, meaning any form of mass gatherings are not allowed.
“September pa lang po nagbigay na ng kautusan ang Pangulo. We expect all LGUs to cooperate by ensuring that cemeteries within their localities are closed. Ito’y para walang mass gathering ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” Año said.
He further ordered all police commanders across the country to help ensure that all cemeteries are compliant to quarantine protocols.
Ano said all local chief executives and local police commanders should have discussed the rules that would be implemented per locality, noting that all these should conform to the guidelines set by the national government.
With cemeteries and its likes closed on November 1 and 2, LGUs have put in place a system that allowed local folks to visit their dead on a calibrated mode. The number of visitors in cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbarium has been limited to only 30 percent of the venue’s capacity, with all those entering required to wear face masks and face shields, and observe physical distancing.
Police assistance desks have also been established in the facilities for the dead.
Año expressed unity with all Filipinos in the observance of Undas, however, he called for cooperation as the threat of COVID-19 is still there.
“The DILG is one with the Filipino people in remembering our deceased loved ones in the coming All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Days. During the pandemic, we are asking for the people’s cooperation by not going to the cemeteries, staying at home on October 29 to November 4, 2020 and visiting their departed relatives, days before or weeks after the closure,” he said.