Guv orders temporary closure of cemeteries

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued Executive Order No. 45 mandating the closure of cemeteries in the province to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

The temporary closure of all public and private memorial parks, cemeteries and columbaries takes effect from Oct 20 to Nov 2, 2020.

This is anticipation of the observance of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days where people flock to cemeteries as part of tradition.

In his EO, Lacson said Negros Occidental has 2,119 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of September 13, 2020 while the entire country has 265,888 cases as of September 14, 2020.

“Because of the rising number of COVID -19 cases in the province and in our country, there is a compelling reason to regulate the operation of all memorial parks, cemeteries and columbaries in the province in view of the nearing tradition of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Days in the Philippines,” the EO read.