Cemeteries in Bacolod, NegOcc. closed on Oct. 30-Nov. 2

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Memorial parks, cemeteries and columbaries in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City will be closed again to the public from Oct 30-Nov 2, 2021.

This aims to discourage the public from going to these places in observance of All Souls’ and All Saints’ Days amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued Executive Order No. 21-47 imposing the temporary closure of all public cemeteries and private memorial parks and columbaries all over the province on said days.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia also issued Executive Order No. 50 with the same directive.

Because of the constant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the province, Lacson said there is a compelling reason to regulate the operation of all memorial parks, cemeteries and columbaries over the province, in order to avoid mass gatherings and prevent the outbreak of the disease.

Last year, memorial parks, as well as public and private cemeteries were also off limits to visitors.

The Provincial Incident Management recorded 4,418 active cases in Negros Occidental as of October 14.

The governor ordered all component cities and municipalities to comply with his issued executive order through their respective disaster risk reduction and management offices and traffic management authorities with the assistance of the Philippine National Police and their force multipliers.

Negros Occidental remains under general community quarantine (GCQ) until October 31, while Bacolod City is under the same but with heightened restrictions.

As of October 15, Bacolod City has 152 new cases.