NCRPO: Millions visit Metro Manila cemeteries

MANILA, Philippines — With over 2.5 million Filipinos flocking to cemeteries in Metro Manila, the observance of All Saints’ Day was “generally peaceful,” according to the National Capital Region Police Office.

Crowd estimates from the NCRPO showed 2,522,841 people visited cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaria on Nov. 1.

The Manila Police District logged 660,000 visitors at the Manila North Cemetery (MNC) yesterday, in addition to the 1,434,800 posted from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.

MNC director Daniel Tan said 24 children without wrist tags, aged two to 13, were separated from their parents. Last year, 80 children were reported missing.

The Manila South Cemetery registered 74,194 visitors yesterday, bringing the total to 404,433.

At the Southern Police District, 492,395 people visited 52 cemeteries and other resting places under the SPD.

The Northern Police District recorded crowds of 199,806; the Quezon City Police District, 103,343, and Eastern Police District, 77,994.

By 6 p.m. yesterday, All Souls’ Day, another 954,680 paid respects to their dead.

NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Hazel Asilo said 13,516 police personnel remain deployed in Metro Manila. The NCRPO will remain on full alert until today.

Returning travelers

The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) expects a surge of passengers returning to Metro Manila after the Undas long weekend.

PITX projects foot traffic of up to 190,000 today as travelers return to work from the provinces.

“We are expecting the influx tomorrow (Nov. 3) because fewer passengers usually travel on Nov. 2, with some extending their vacations and returning home after the holiday,” PITX senior corporate affairs officer Kolyn Calbasa told GMA News yesterday.

PITX served 1,499,454 passengers from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1. As of 6 p.m. yesterday, foot traffic had reached 142,648, bringing the total to 1,642,102.

The landport expected a slight decrease in passengers during this year’s Undas, as Metro Manila goes on a five-day weekend to make way for the 49th ASEAN Leaders Summit.

President Marcos has declared Nov. 16 to 18 as special non-working days in the metropolis.

PITX saw lower bookings this year, according to Calbasa, but several factors are pushing foot traffic to exceed the 1.96 million recorded in 2025.

These factors include more commuters riding the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), which has a station directly connected to PITX, and more motorists parking at the landport and commuting to provinces to save on fuel costs.

The Light Rail Manila Corp., the private operator of LRT-1, recently announced improvements at the PITX station to ease passenger congestion, such as additional ticket counters, relocating existing ticket vending machines and reconfiguring turnstile gates.

Calbasa assured travelers that no significant delays are being encountered at PITX, even as traffic jams hounded Metro Manila in the past few days.

“All of our buses are departing, especially those going to the provinces,” she said.

PITX regularly coordinates with bus operators to ensure quick turnaround time, according to Calbasa.

She added that representatives from government agencies such as the Land Transportation Office, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation are on standby at PITX to ensure order. — Andrew Ronquillo