Cemeteries open; few visitors seen

CEBU, Philippines — Only a few people in Cebu City took advantage of the first day that cemeteries were allowed to open to the public.

City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who heads the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction Management, said the situation at the cemeteries is still normal and that the police personnel have already been deployed to prepare for the influx of visitors as the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day near.

“Ang atong gi-expect nga modaghan ang mga tawo inig ka duol-duol na mga second week of October. Atong makita karon wala pa kaayoy mga tawo,” Tumulak said.

Yesterday, personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE), and barangay officials have visited the different cemeteries to check if the guidelines set forth in Executive Order no. 92 that Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella had recently issued are followed and complied with.

PROBE Head Raquel Arce said they have also started inspecting the cemeteries yesterday.

“Naa lang tay makit-an dihay mga tiguwang nga mag-rosario pa.  So, atong gipabadlong sa atong operatives kay under the executive order, ang senior citizens must stay at home.  So, gipasabot sad nato sila ana, nahibawo naman sad sila nga nalista na sila sa ipanghatag nga ayuda. So, ato gyud sila gi-esplikaran nga mo-cooperate, mo-abide lang,” Arce said.

She added that they have also talked to those who are staying in the cemetery to leave the premises soon.

“Naa man guy nagpuyo sulod sa menteryo unya dili man na nato madali-dali dayon kay for how many months naa sila sa sulod.  Pero nasabtan na nila kay kada tuig mao man gud nay atong trabaho nga atong man silang i-clear.  Ato man gyud i-clear ang menteryo sa mga illegal settlers, so wala nato hingusgi (kagahapon).  Gitagaan nato sila og duha ka adlaw, so Lunes himoon ang clearing operation sa nagpuyo sa mga nitso sa sulod sa sam-ang,” Arce added.

Arce is hoping that the people will understand that the guidelines have been laid out to prevent the spread of the virus.

In the EO, cemeteries are allowed to open on September 26 to October 28, but will be closed on October 29 to November 4.  The cemeteries would be allowed to resume operations on November 5.

Cebu City has 23 cemeteries that the people may visit to from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — GAN (FREEMAN)