Thousands beat deadline for cemetery visits

CEBU, Philippines —  With cemeteries in Cebu City closed today until November 2, many trooped to such places yesterday to visit their departed loved ones.

Specifically during the final hour of visit yesterday from 5 to 6 p.m., thousands came to beat the closing of cemeteries.

Cebu City Police Office chief Col. Josefino Ligan reported that based on their assessment, there were 3,800 individuals who came to visit the tombs at the Carreta Cemetery on the final hour, 5,300 at Pardo’s public and private cemetery, and 9,216 at Calamba cemetery.

Despite the influx of visitors, though, no violators of safety and health protocol were apprehended, said City Hall’s Prevention Restoration Order Beatification and Enhancement team head Raquel Arce.

“Nikusog ang bul-og, nidaghan ang pag-abot sa mga tawo sa mga diri na sa alas tres... Daghan gyung naabtan sa pagsira sa mga sam-ang. So wa naman tay mahimo kay ang magbuot sad sa pagsira sa mga sam-ang ang simbahan man, ang ilang personnel didto,” Arce said.

Cemeteries, especially the major public cemeteries, stopped admitting visitors quarter to 6 p.m. yesterday.

Visitors were advised to return when cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria reopen on November 3.

“Kung magpasud pa man gud ta’g until 6, alas 6 pasado na sad magpagawas nila... So amo na lang giingnan nga balik na lang sa petsa tres (November 3),” said Arce.

While there were no protocol violators, some minors and elderly people stayed at the holding areas as they were not allowed to go inside the cemeteries.

No Crime

Ligan said they have not received reports of any crime on the last day of the opening of cemeteries yesterday.

He, however, said they were yet to get the consolidated reports as of this writing.

“There were no reported crime incidents for the day. Hopefully, zero gyud ta, not only karong adlawa,” Ligan said.

In terms of traffic, the situation was considered “normal.”

“When it comes to traffic, regular lang, wala gyud siyay ingong nag-build up, nag-heavy, regular lang , just normal,” said Ligan.

As cemeteries close today until November 2, Ligan said CCPO will continue to monitor movement in cemeteries while encouraging barangay officials and force multipliers to keep eye on visitors.

“Gi-encourage pud nato ang atong mga force multipliers and barangay officials to look into those (cemeteries in the mountain barangays) kay open man gud na sila, dili enclosed, walay pader. From time to time, we will also check on them to ensure na walay tawo mag-adto. Naa gihapon tay mga personnel tuyukan nato didto and in the urban area, naa pud gihapoy mga police, though minimum lang,” said Ligan.

Aside from the CCPO personnel, PROBE will have a skeletal force deployed at public cemeteries in the following days.

Subsidy to vendors

Meanwhile, the city government will be giving rice subsidy to 293 vendors affected by the closure of different cemeteries.

Arce said the “ayuda” will be distributed today at the Department of Social Welfare and Services in Barangay Labangon from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Each affected vendor will get 50 kilos of rice, an improvement from last year’s 25 kilos per vendor. — JMD (FREEMAN)