Angeles City—Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has ordered the closure of all public and private cemeteries in the city from October 30 until November 2, 2020 to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19.
Saying he understands the value of traditional All Saints Day and All Souls Day observance for Filipino families, the city mayor appealed to local residents to just pray and light candles for their departed loved ones at their respective homes.
“While the city government respects the Filipino tradition of remembering our departed loved ones, the mass gathering of people in these days poses danger and may spread the deadly virus,” Lazatin said in his issued Executive Order No. 19.
The city government encouraged city folks to consider alternative dates to visit the cemetery.
Lazatin said the move aims to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus as the city recently experienced a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases.