Metro Manila mayors would discuss on Sunday the guidelines for the Undas holidays, including the possible closure of cemeteries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, chairman of the Metro Manila Council, told Dobol B sa News TV that all of the mayors would like to create a unified policy for the observance of All Souls and All Saints Days 2020.
“Pag-uusapan namin this coming Sunday, ng Metro Manila Council, kasama sa agenda namin, para magkaroon kami ng uniform, unified na policy sa darating na Todos Los Santos,” he said.
(Metro Manila Council will talk about this coming Sunday. Part of our agenda is to have a unified policy for the upcoming Todos Los Santos.)
Currently, only the cities of Manila and Mandaluyong have released orders to temporarily close cemeteries during Undas to avoid crowding and prevent the spread of the disease.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno earlier decided to close all public and private cemeteries in the city during the Undas 2020 holidays, which is from October 31 to November 3.
Meanwhile, Mayor Menchie Abalos has approved the temporary closure of cemeteries in Mandaluyong from October 30 to November 2.
Metro Manila mayors consider unified Undas policy amid pandemic
Olivarez also said he has yet to come up with a similar directive for Parañaque as he is also taking into consideration the fact that the largest private cemetery is in the city.
“Ang Parañaque as of now wala pa kasi hinihintay namin yung pag-uusap ng Metro Manila Council, kasi katulad ng nabanggit ko, yung mga pupunta sa sementeryo sa amin hindi lang taga-Parañaque lang kundi all over Metro Manila,” he said.
(We don’t have now for Parañaque because we are waiting for what Metro Manila Council would come up because as I mentioned, those who come to our cemetery are not only from Parañaque but all over Metro Manila.)
“Pero yung ginawa ng dalawang LGU, prerogative nila yun,” Olivarez added, referring to Manila and Mandaluyong.
Meanwhile, only 30 people would be allowed to attend burials in Manila North Cemetery amid the COVID-19 pandemic, its official announced Thursday.
Manila North Cemetery Administrator Roselle Castaneda also said that the only vehicle allowed inside the cemetery would be the hearse carrying the coffin.