City government to organize “Kalag-Kalag” vendors

CEBU, Philippines — In preparation for the upcoming Kalag-Kalag 2024, the Cebu City government is looking into organizing vendors properly in the city’s cemeteries.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) head Raquel Arce said most vendors usually only sell in cemeteries during the All Saints and All Soul’s Day or Kalag-Kalag.

With this, vendors need to coordinate with the respective barangays where the cemeteries are located, as reported by the city’s information office.

Dr. Lucelle Mercado, chairperson of Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa (GASA) has earlier stressed that the vendors will be allowed to sell in cemeteries, but they will have to be properly organized. GASA takes charge in the monitoring and regulating of vendors in Cebu City.

Arce, who is also a member of GASA, added that what is important is to ensure that the vendors will not obstruct the flow of vehicle traffic, as well as foot traffic with people going in and out of the cemeteries.

A final coordination meeting with the management and representatives of the different cemeteries in Cebu City is scheduled to take place today, Oct. 28, 2024, to discuss the traffic flow around cemeteries, including the portion where vendors will be allowed to sell their goods.

Earlier, CCTO had also advised those who are going to visit their deceased loved ones in the cemeteries to plan their trips ahead especially as traffic re-routing will be implemented starting October 31.

CCTO, in fact, has already released its traffic plan for Kalag-Kalag ahead of time. One can visit their page or the Cebu City’s PIO page for the specific areas where public and private vehicles can pass through, as well as the specified parking spaces.