MALACAÑANG on Monday called on the public to have a clean, orderly and crime-free observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
“As we remember our departed loved ones, we ask everyone to observe the solemnity of the occasion. Let us not bring bladed tools, liquor, loudspeakers,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
“As our people enjoy this rare four-day break, there are many who would opt to go to their provinces. We remind them to secure their houses and make sure they are locked with all appliances unplugged before leaving.”
Filipinos continued to flock to the cemeteries in Metro Manila on Monday, when more than 1,000 police, military personnel and civilian volunteers have been deployed to provide security inside and outside the Manila North Cemetery.
At least one million people were expected to visit the Manila South Cemetery by Tuesday.
And in the 54-hectare Manila North Cemetery, one of the biggest and oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila, more than 10,000 people had arrived to visit their departed as of 9 a.m.
Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo said Filipinos should visit their departed on Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, and not on Nov. 1 which is All Saints’ Day.
He said All Souls Day was the time of blessing the dead and blessing the grave.
PNP spokesman Dionard Carlos said police units had been deployed to provide security and assistance to the people paying their respect to their departed.
Carlos said the National Capital Region Police Office alone had deployed 9,533 police personnel until Nov. 2 to secure cemeteries, bus terminals, airports and seaports and other places where people converge.
The Metro Manila Development Authority deployed around 2,800 personnel to maintain traffic and to respond to emergencies.
MMDA spokeswoman Celine Piolago said the MMDA was implementing the “no-absences and no day-offs” policy to ensure they had enough personnel for the long weekend.
She said the number-coding scheme in Metro Manila had been suspended and would resume on Nov. 2.
The Inter-Agency Council on Traffic led by the Transport department had earlier lifted the Number- Coding Scheme in Metro Manila from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. to help commuters going to and from their provinces.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board inspected buses to ensure their road worthiness.
The Manila International Airport Authority created a management team to mind the terminals during the peak days.
The Maritime Industry Authority monitored all domestic passenger ships to ensure those were not overloaded.