Dabawenyos urged to visit cemeteries earlier

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte advised Dabawenyos to visit their dead loved ones earlier as the city plans to close cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums from October 24 to November 7 in the observance of All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day.

During her special program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday, Duterte said that cemeteries will be closed for two weeks. She encouraged the public to visit the tombs of their dead loved ones before and after the closure dates to ensure that social distancing is properly observed during the traditional celebration.

“Magpahinumdom ta sa atong tanang kaigsuonang Dabawenyo na mobisita na sa mga sementeryo before October 24 or after November 7 because we will be closing cemeteries on October 24 to November 7 (I would like to remind Dabawenyos to visit the cemeteries before October or after November 7)” Duterte said. 

She urged the public to pick any day except weekends because they expect an influx of people to the cemeteries. This is also another measure to prevent mass gathering and stem the spread of COVID-19. 

“Magbisita na po ta, dili po ta mag dungan-dungan on November 1 and 2 didto sa mga cemeteries nato (Let’s not visit cemeteries altogether on November 1 and 2).”

Duterte, however, said that there will be exemptions from the closure. She said that cemeteries would still be open for burial rites, birthday celebrations, and death anniversaries.

She further said that last year’s guidelines would still be the same.

“Ang allowed lang musulod dinha sa close na ang cemetery tong dunay schedule nga mag-lubong, ug kadtong mga birthday sa namatay or death anniversary sa namatay (The people who are allowed to go to the cemeteries are those with burial schedules and those who will celebrate the birthday and death anniversary of the deceased),” she said.

Executive Order No. 52 issued last year regulates the operation of funeral parlors, cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums by: 

implementing a “Family Members Only” policy during wakes and burials. The family in charge of the wake and burial must ensure that there will be no mass gathering among the family members and health protocols such as wearing face masks, physical distancing is observed, and that they should put in place hand sanitizing or alcohol-based hand rub.

The family members present should not exceed 50% of the room where the casket is located, and the family must also keep a record of the date and time of the visit of all family members for contact tracing.CIO