Bohol closes cemeteries

from Oct 29 to Nov 2

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct 22 (PIA) – Governor Arthur Yap has ordered the closure of all cemeteries from October 29 to November 2, to minimize the risk of a super-spreader event during the All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day.

Through Executive Order No 53, series of 2021, the governor has formalized the local adoption of the national Inter-Agency task Force Resolution which recommended the five-day closure to minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission during the Adlaw sa mga Santos and Kalag-kalag November 1 and 2.

Earlier, in a meeting with the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force on the management of Emerging infectious Strategic Communications Cluster (BIATF StratCom) Monday October 18, the governor has said he is recommending to the mayors the adoption of the national policy which, according to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, is to close all cemeteries in the country from October 29 to November 2, 2021.

Adlaw sa mga Santos and Kalag-kalag, are among the Filipino adopted family traditions of visiting their departed relatives and kin to offer them flowers and prayers for their eternal repose and intercession, for some.

While the tradition is rooted in the catholic faith, many have shifted the religious practice into time and venue for socialization, reunion and clan gatherings in memorial parks and cemeteries.

“With the continued threat of COVID especially with the Delta variant in Bohol, even when the Department of Health, upon looking at the decreasing number of COVID cases in Bohol, the lessening hospital bed utilization rate and the lowered Intensive Care Unit occupancy,” the governor said he fears that loosening the policies in Bohol might shock the system and trigger yet another surge.

“The move is to avoid the congregation of people who traditionally flock to the cemeteries during those dates and minimize the risk of super spreader events during the Undas,” the governor said.

The EO however suggested that people rather visit the cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaria before the closure dates or before October 29 and after November 2.

Even then, with the national IATF, Bohol also put up similar guidelines: that visitors must still be limited to ten persons per group, and the venue must only allow 50% capacity.

With this, masses and religious services during the closure dates, are allowed in churches, depending on the allowed capacity and strict observance of health and safety standards and protocols.

As this is allowed, the authorities would still be fielding monitors and personnel to assure that the policy is followed and that the visitors follow the minimum public health standards to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

The Philippine National Police, local government units, down to the barangay officers, are all expected to make sure the policy is implemented, Año added in reports. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)