Mayor orders temporary closure of cemeteries

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the temporary closure of public and private cemeteries, columbaria, and the like from Oct 29 to Nov 4, 2020 to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Leonardia signed Executive Order No. 61 series of 2020 Saturday in compliance with the National Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 Resolution No. 72 dated Sept 17, 2020 to enhance public health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bacolod City and for other purposes.

The mayor said that in consideration of the familial, cultural and religious needs of the Filipinos to pay respects to the departed ones, the NIATF Resolution 72 allowed that from Sept 17, 2020 until Nov 17, 2020 visitor, occupancy in all public and private cemeteries, memorial parks, columbaria and the like all throughout the country shall be increased to a maximum of 30 percent of the venue capacity at any given time.

But such facilities shall be temporarily closed to visitors from Oct 29 to Nov 4 inclusive for the strict implementation of health and safety protocols on mass gatherings during the Undas season.

Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued Executive Order No. 45 effecting the closure of cemeteries in the province Oct 20 to Nov 2.