Cebu City eyes aid for vendors affected by closure of cemeteries

CEBU, Philippines —  As cemeteries in Cebu City will be closed on October 29 to November 3, the city government considers giving assistance or “ayuda” to affected vendors.

Public and private cemeteries in Cebu City will be open until today only for this month and will resume on November 3.

“We adhere to the advice of DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) on the closure of cemeteries from October 29 to November 2,” acting mayor Michael Rama said in a statement yesterday.

With this development, there are vendors selling flowers and candles in cemeteries hoping for some assistance from the city government since they will have no income on those dates.

Before Rama’s pronouncement, vendors in cemeteries were optimistic on making profit this year following the closure of cemeteries last year.

To ease their burden, the city government is already preparing “something” for the affected vendors.

But the details and distribution of goods are still being finalized.

Last year, the city government gave out at least 25 kilos of rice to over 300 vendors affected by the closure of cemeteries.

Meanwhile, even with the closure, the police force will continue to monitor the situation in the cemeteries.

This is to ensure that no one will attempt to go to cemeteries on those dates specified to be closed.

After November 5, cemeteries will continue to be open but on a limited capacity. — JMD (FREEMAN)