DILG reminds LGUs: Ensure cemeteries are shut during ‘Undas’

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday reminded local government units (LGUs) to ensure that all private and public cemeteries are closed from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, to prevent mass gatherings in the midst of pandemic.

“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,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

(The President already gave this directive since September. We expect all LGUs to cooperate by ensuring that cemeteries within their localities are closed. This is to ensure that there is no mass gathering during pandemic.)

Last September, Malacañang said cemeteries will be open from September 17 to November 15, except during Undas season, but with a limited capacity of 30 percent.

Año, likewise, asked the public’s understanding as commemoration of Undas will be different because the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over.

“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,” Año said.

“Maaari naman pong makadalaw sa mga sementeryo ang ating mga kababayan kahit anong edad bago o matapos ang itinakda at ipinagbabawal na mga araw. Ito naman po ay para rin sa kabutihan ng nakararami,” he went on.

(Residents can still visit cemeteries before or after the aforementioned dates. This is for the good of all.)

As of Oct. 26, 371,630 people nationwide were infected with the coronavirus disease. Of the number, 328,258 are recoveries while 7,039 are deaths.

JPV