CEBU, Philippines – Security and traffic officials in Lapu-Lapu City have already laid down measures to prevent untoward incidents in the celebration of All Saints' and Souls' Days on November 1 and 2.
Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office in-charge, said they will give police assistance to visitors of different cemeteries in the city.
Lapu-Lapu homes two public cemeteries, namely the Catholic Cemetery in Barangay Humay-humay and the municipal cemetery in Sitio Tugas, Barangay Gun-ob.
The city also hosts the private Mactan Island Memorial Garden in Barangay Marigondon and a coastal cemetery in Olango Island.
During yesterday's conference with members of the media, Radoc said the three cemeteries in the mainland, especially the two public cemeteries, will be closely monitored by the police.
Frank Brazil, chief of the City Traffic and Management Services, said all the roads going to the public cemeteries will be temporarily closed for two days starting 4 a.m. of November 1 until the midnight of November 2.
Radoc and Brazil likewise expressed apprehensions over the presence of sidewalk vendors and unfinished road projects as potential concerns during the celebration.
Radoc explained that vendors will not be allowed to sell in the streets on November 1 and 2 as this may cause obstruction to the flow of people and passing vehicles.
Brazil said they will arrest vendors selling their goods in the streets on those days.
The CTMS chief added that aside from the traffic team and police, they are also closely coordinating with the Solid Waste Management group under the city's Clean and Green Department in arresting violators.
There are five "No Entry" points within the public cemeteries, according to the police. A parking lot for vehicles will be designated in each side of the Hoops Dome grounds.
Persons with disabilities on private vehicles are allowed to access the "No Entry" points but they are only allowed to be dropped at the cemetery's entrance.
The police have also reminded the public to strictly observe the liquor and weapon ban during the two-day commemoration.