The Department of Health plans to recommend the closure of cemeteries nationwide during the coming observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day to prevent the spread of COVID-19, following the lead of mayors in Metro Manila.
“What Metro Manila mayors did is good practice,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in Filipino during a virtual briefing on Monday.
“When the time comes, we can recommend that as well across the country,” said Vergeire, replying to a question if the temporary closure was something they would recommend nationwide.
“We know that during All Saints Day, cemeteries get really crowded with people. And that is mass gathering already and we would like to prevent that,” she added.
Vergeire said it was also apt that the mayors announced it early so residents would have a chance to visit the graves of their loved ones.
Manila was among the first to order the closure of cemeteries from October 31 to November 1.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority later said that all Metro Manila mayors agreed to have the cemeteries in their cities closed.
MMDA general managåer Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. announced this during a virtual meeting with reporters on Monday.
He said members of the Metro Manila Council, which is composed of the 17 mayors in the NCR, unanimously agreed to close all private and public cemeteries in their respective areas to prevent mass gathering to further curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Initially, the MMC proposed to the IATF to close private and public cemeteries all over the metropolis from October 28 to November 4.
“We will let the IATF to decide on their preferred date of closure of cemeteries during the All Saints Day holidays,” Garcia said.
Garcia said the decision to close cemeteries was to avoid the influx of people visiting their departed loved ones as well as to avert COVID-19 transmission.
Mass gatherings are prohibited in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).
"All cemeteries will be closed for one week but if there are cremations, interment or other funeral services on those dates, of course we will allow that. What we want to prevent is the mass gathering of people," said Garcia.
MMC chairman and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said earlier that those who would visit cemeteries before and after the said dates would be required to practice health and safety protocols being implemented by the government during the lockdown such as the wearing of face shields and masks.
"We encourage them to visit the cemetery on a spread time. One month before or one month after Undas so we can implement the physical distancing," he said.
Traditionally, the MMDA is deploying more than 2,000 men all over the metropolis for the safety of thousands who will pay their respect to their loved ones during the All Saints and All Souls day break.
The deployment of MMDA personnel is also to ensure the smooth flow of human and vehicular traffic particularly on areas where most bus terminals are located.