Some LGUs want their cemeteries open for 2 days during ‘Undas’ — LPP

MANILA, Philippines — Some local government units (LGUs) outside Metro Manila are requesting that cemeteries in their areas be opened from Oct. 30 to 31 with minimum health protocols imposed, the president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) said Friday.

The government’s pandemic task force recently passed a resolution closing cemeteries in the country beginning Oct. 29 and until Nov. 2, for All Saints Day and All Souls Day, which are traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2.

“Kami naman po ay sumusunod sa regulasyon ng IATF ( Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) at kung isasara nga po yung mga sementeryo sa apat na araw na ‘yon ay susundin naman po natin,” LPP President and Marinduque governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(We will follow the regulations of the IATF and if they will close the cemeteries for four days, we will comply.)

However, he said there are LGUs seeking the opening of cemeteries in their areas for at least two days.

“[Yung] iba ay humihiling naman po na pwede na rin buksan kahit po Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 kasi nga po nung sinara po nung Oct 30 and 31 yung public cemetery para pong ni-lipat lang yung yung araw dito sa darating Oct. 23 and 24. May hiling po na ganoon [na]  magbukas yung iba,” he said.

(Some LGUs are requesting that the cemeteries be opened at least on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 because there will just be an influx of visitors on different dates, on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24. There are requests like this.)

But Velasco said it would still be up to the IATF if they will allow the request of these LGUs.

Meanwhile, he said LGUs are already making preparations for the coming weekend to control the number of visitors coming to public cemeteries.

“Talagang pong may schedule at saka lilimitahin yung pumapasok po sa loob ng isang period of time e kailangan po talagang limitado,” he added.

(There’s a schedule and those entering the premises will be limited for a period of time.)

Velasco also reiterated LPP’s appeal to the IATF to defer the implementation of the alert level system in some provinces to November 1.

According to the LPP president, they have recently sent a letter to the IATF and are awaiting a response on their request.

EDV