‘No smoking, littering in public cemeteries’

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

Anti-smoking and anti-littering policies of the Iloilo City government will be strictly implemented in all public cemeteries during the observance of the All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (CDRRMO).

CDRRMO head Donna Magno said personnel from the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) will be deployed to ensure that cemeteries will be free from garbage and that the no-smoking policy is enforced.

“Ipatuman naton ang anti-smoking and anti-littering sa kada sementeryo kag maga-deploy kita personnel from ICAST and CENRO para ang mga basura naton mahaboy sa ensakto nga lugar kag ang panigarilyo malikawan,” she said in an interview on Wednesday.

The ICAST and CENRO are part of the committees formed by the city government to ensure the smooth observance of Undas 2019.

According to Magno, the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) will lead the traffic management and deployment of the traffic enforcers while the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) will take charge of checking the lightings in the cemeteries.

“The Philippine National Police (PNP) together with the barangay tanods in the metro will ensure the safety and security of the public. City Health Office (CHO), and Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) will also help in deploying doctors and emergency responders especially in the three major cemeteries situated in La Paz, Mandurriao and Jaro districts,” Magno added.

All in all, around 800 personnel will be deployed to monitor the observance of Undas 2019 in the city, she furthered.

Aside from this, the emergency operation center of CDRRMO will also be on stand-by from October 31-November 2, 2019, following the activation of the blue alert status in the region and the city.

“We have personnel nga 24 hours ang duty and may ara ta roving ambulance unit para mag-ensure nga kon may maglilipong sa patyo, may ara ma-respond to any emergencies,” Magno said.

Magno also urged the public to be in the cemeteries as early as possible to prevent extreme heat.

“We advise them to come early para malikawan ang tama ka init and dala payong, kag balon tubig,” she noted.