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Manila to close city's cemeteries over Undas 2020


Manila has ordered the closure of all public and private cemeteries in the city from Saturday, October 31 to  Tuesday, November 3.

In a live briefing, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno said that he had signed Executive Order No. 38, ordering the temporary closure of the cemeteries over the Undas holidays to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“Kung mabisang dumami ang coronavirus ay dahil ‘yun sa ating pakikihalubilo, siksikan, sama-sama sa isang lugar," Moreno said.

"Para maiwasan natin ang patuloy na paglago ng coronavirus through this situation ay pansamantala ko po itong isasara,” he added.

Moreno asked for understanding from the public, adding that he issued the announcement early to give them time to visit their loved ones before the closure.

“Kaya ko po ito ginagawa ngayon ay para mabigyan kayo ng sapat na panahon sa loob na humigit kumulang na dalawang buwan simula ngayon na mabisita ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay na nahimlay,” Moreno said.

The mayor said the Manila North Cemetery, which contains 105,837 graves, has an estimated visitor count of 1.5 million while the Manila South Cemetery, which contains 39,228 graves, is estimated to have 800,000 visitors.

In 2019, the visitors in the Manila North Cemetery reached half a million.

However, Moreno said that should all COVID-19 cases in the city recover by October 31 or should a vaccine arrive before the designated date, he would rescind the order.

“Patawarin niyo po ako kung sakaling masasaktan ko ang inyong damdamin na huwag makita ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay sa partikular na panahon na iyon. Ngunit, sa kabilang banda, inaagapan namin na makabisita po kayo sa panahon ngayon,” the mayor said.

“Tayo po ay nasa GCQ. Ibig sabihin, may mga panahon, araw, oras na hindi natin kailangan magsiksikan, magpahirapan sa pila, na mabisita ang mga mahal sa buhay,” he later added. -NB, GMA News

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