City government giving aid to cemetery vendors

CEBU, Philippines — As cemeteries close down today until November 5, the Cebu City government is giving away 25 kilos of rice to each of the candle vendors and other cemetery workers who are affected by the quarantine restrictions.

Among those that received a sack of rice are 117 vendors from the Carreta public cemetery, 220 in Calamba Public Cemetery and an undisclosed number of candle vendors at the Queen City Memorial Garden.

Other public cemeteries who are also receiving help from the city government through its Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) include that of the Pardo Cemetery, Veteran’s Cemetery in Labangon, St. Joseph Cemetery in Banilad, the Cebu Memorial Park in Banilad as well as that of Talamban and Pit-os cemeteries.

“I appeal to the people of Cebu, that yes it was a tradition but because of the pandemic, what is more compelling and more important is to protect the health of the people. We have to close our cemeteries,” said Mayor Edgardo Labella earlier.

So far, the last day of re-opening cemeteries had been generally peaceful said councilor Dave Tumulak who had been doing the rounds.

“Sa tanang mga minteryo nga giduaw, generally peaceful.  Controlled ra sa kapulisan, sa PROBE team ug sa disaster sa pagbantay sa mga minteryo sa syudad sa Sugbo,” said Tumulak.

Although cemeteries are closed, masses for their departed loved ones will remain.

For those who want to offer their prayers, they may leave their intentions outside, but no one is allowed to go in.

Policemen will remain in the cemeteries to ensure that no one will try to go visit.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases via Resolution No. 71 prevents the public from the traditional observance of All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“All private and public cemeteries, and memorial parks, including columbariums and the like throughout the country, shall be closed to visitors from October 29 to Nov. 4.”

In Labella’s Executive Order 92-A, those who missed out to visit their loved ones may still do so on November 5 to 15, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Dicemay Padilla, GAN (FREEMAN)