No-vendor policy reduces number of people at Manila North Cemetery on Oct. 31

MANILA, Philippines — The implementation of the no-vendor policy inside the Manila North Cemetery led to a significantly low turnout of visitors on Thursday as compared to last year’s, the police task group commander on the cemetery said.

Police Lt. Col. Reynaldo Magdaluyo told INQUIRER.net that as of 5 p.m., police has recorded around 30,000 visitors at the cemetery.

“Nasa 30,000 pa lang kami ngayon eh, so napakaliit ng bilang ngayon. Nung last year (ng) mga ganitong mga panahon nasa mga halos kalahating milyon na e. Talagang ano, kita mo oh, napakaluwag,” he said.

(We’re only at 30,000 right now so it’s significantly lower. At this time last year, there was almost around half a million visitors. It’s really, as you can see, it’s not so crowded).

Magdaluyo said the low turnout of visitors at one of Manila’s oldest and largest burial grounds can be attributed to the no-vendor policy being implemented by the city government.

“Kasi walang vendor, walang vendor,” he said when asked what may have caused the low turnout of cemetery visitors.

(Because there’s no vendors, no vendors).

In the past few days, the Manila government evicted vendors and illegal settlers inside the Manila North Cemetery in time for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

“Dati parang may fiestahan diyan, magmula sa maga-icedrop, magbu-buko, lahat na ng paninda, tiangge, ukay-ukay, inilipat dito, yung buong Recto inilipat, KFC, Chowking, Jollibee, Mcdo, nandito. O yun lang yung mga crew don ang dami na,” he said.

(Before it was as if there’s a fiesta inside. From vendors of icedrops, coconut juice, everything, street market, thrift shop, it was brought here, all of Recto was brought here, even fast food stalls. Just their crew alone is a lot).

“Parang nagpi-piyesta yung mga tao. Ngayon wala na talaga silang, lalabas sila, magugutom sila, walang pagkain,” he added.

(It was like people were having a fiesta. Now they’re (vendors) gone. They (visitors) would go out, they would go hungry, there’s no food inside).

Earlier, Manila Police District chief Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba said they are expecting around 1.8 million visitors at the Manila North Cemetery during the duration of Undas from All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2). /jpv

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