Zamora orders reservation system for cemetery visitors

MANILA, Philippines — San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora on Tuesday required residents to secure reservations when visiting their departed loved ones during the opening of public and private cemeteries in the city.

Zamora signed the Executive Order (EO) no. 51 requiring secured reservations for citizens to visit cemeteries and columbaria from October 16 to 28 and from November 5 to 15.

Under the EO, the capacity of visitors at cemeteries must be limited to 30 percent in compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

https://www.facebook.com/MayorFrancisZamora/posts/3315025948592119

The new order came after the approval of EO no. 49 which mandated the temporary closure of these cemeteries from October 29 to November 4 to avoid mass gathering which may cause an increase of COVID-19 cases in the city.

According to the San Juan Public Information Office, the city has three cemeteries namely, San Juan Public Cemetery, St. John Memorial Park, and Santuario del Sto. Cristo Columbarium.

In his Facebook Live, Zamora said he signed EO 51 to allow residents to visit their deceased relatives despite the closure of cemeteries during Undas season.

https://www.facebook.com/MayorFrancisZamora/videos/323670615596419

“I know how important it is for the Filipino families to visit, offer flowers and prayers to their departed loved ones in the cemeteries during All Souls’ Day, it is just unfortunate that because of the pandemic, this tradition will be compromised this year,” Zamora further said in a statement.

“I just thought there has to be another way of letting the people pay homage to their loved ones within the season month without putting anyone at risk because of the virus. That is why I issued this EO designating certain dates that these facilities will be open for public but subject to prior reservation and registration that would ensure that the venue capacity being imposed by the IATF is complied with,” he added.

Zamora, likewise, ordered that standard guidelines and protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields must still be followed inside the cemeteries.

Those wishing to visit the San Juan Public Cemetery can accomplish their reservations online or through the San Juan Undas Hotline, 7728-9818.

Residents are allowed to enter San Juan Public Cemetery from 7 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Visits will be limited to two hours per batch.

Each batch will be limited to 270 visitors for public memorial parks and cemeteries while 30 visitors will be allowed per batch for private establishments. (Miggy Dumlao, trainee)

EDV