Cebu cities heed IATF guidelines on closure of cemeteries

CEBU, Philippines — Cemeteries in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu in Cebu province will be closed from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, in line with the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said IATF co-chairman Carlo Nograles informed him that the IATF rejected his request to open cemeteries on Nov. 1 and 2 for fully vaccinated residents.

”The decision of the city is to abide and and be attuned with the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) and IATF,” Rama said.

He said he would no longer appeal the decision.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said all private and public cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaries nationwide would be closed for five days during Undas to prevent mass gatherings that could trigger the spread of COVID-19.

In Mandaue, Mayor Jonas Cortes issued an executive order on Monday for the closure of all private and public cemeteries from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2.

“The city of Mandaue deems it proper to adopt the guidelines set by the national IATF for Undas 2021 to avoid confusion and ensure uniformity in standards and guidelines across all local government units,” Cortes’ EO read.

Cortes had earlier approved the closure of cemeteries in the city for a shorter period or from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

In Lapu-Lapu, cemeteries will be closed from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 after the IATF denied the request of the city government to keep cemeteries open on Oct. 29 and 30.

Under an EO issued by Mayor Junard Chan last week, cemeteries would be closed only from Oct. 31 to Nov.  2. – Caecent Magsumbol/The Freeman