Cemeteries off-limits

CEBU, Philippines —   For the first time in many decades, all public and private cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaries in Cebu City will be off-limits to the public on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Mayor Edgardo Labella has issued an executive order imposing a temporary closure of places from October 30 to November 3, 2020, considering that the city is still in the middle of fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

“There is a need for the city government of Cebu to temporarily close memorial parks, cemeteries and columbaries in the City during the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, as well as the days leading to and after these events so as to prevent the expected influx and gathering of people inside these areas,” read Labella’s Executive Order No. 92.

Cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaries that will violate the order may face revocation of mayor’s permit and business permit.

However, the EO provides that interment and cremation services provided by public and private memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbaries shall be allowed to continue within the five-day closure.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), City Health Department (CHD), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), PROBE team, Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), with the assistance of barangay officials, are directed to implement the order.

On his official Facebook page, Labella said the purpose of his order is to prevent overcrowding and the spread of the virus inside cemeteries during the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

“The city government continues to put the people's health as its top priority. At the same time, I understand that we need to honor our departed loved ones by visiting the cemetery and offering our prayers. I therefore release this directive early to give people time to schedule their visits through the days leading to the closure,” Labella's post read.

Cebu City is currently under a state of modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Under the guidelines on community quarantine issued by the National Inter-Agency Task Force, mass gatherings should be regulated so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the city, supports Labella’s move considering that the current situation is not normal.

“Just imagine at any given time moabot ang ilang (deceased) matag pamilya, imposible gyud na mag-social distancing ta. No matter how we try to devise a scheme, lisod jud kaayo kay all cemetery, because of security and safety reason, usa ra gyud na ang ilang ingress, egress. Usa ra gyud na ilahang gate for entrance and exit,” said Garganera.

So how then do city officials intend to implement the order?

Garganera said this is where the borders and checkpoints come in because police visibility will really be strengthened. Force multipliers will also be deployed.

“We will be meeting with the barangays, ila nang i-activate pud ang ilang respective nga checkpoint areas aron pagpahibawo gyud na ginadili gyud ang pag-adto,” said Garganera.

“We have enough time. That's why the mayor made that pronouncement as early as karon so that macondition na ang atong huna-huna, ang atong plano nga dili lang siya pwede,” he added.

Reactions

The FREEMAN tried to get reactions from the Catholic Church leaders in Cebu, including Archbishop Jose Palma, yesterday but to no avail.

But Fr. Jun Paradiang, parish priest in Barangay Pasil, has welcomed the preemptive measure.

“I am a believer of the adage, ‘prevention is better than cure.’ Personally, I am for this EO as this is, for sure, to prevent the transmission of the virus. As long as there is no vaccine, we should not put our guards down,” he said.

Paradiang said the faithful can still visit their departed loved ones a week before or even for the whole duration of the month of November.

“And on the holy days of Nov. 1 and 2, the faithful can stay at home and still pray for the eternal repose of the souls of their loved ones. The intentions of praying for our beloved dead can still be done in the confines of our homes,” he said.

“Our loved ones, if they can say their piece, will surely tell us to stay at home and be safe, and pray,” he added. -- Rowena D. Capistrano/JMD (FREEMAN)