Four days to the observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day 2025, Ilonggos have started to visit cemeteries. A few of these cemeteries remain flooded.

Liezel David, a cemetery-goer, mentioned of flood woes. She could not do a thing, though; she said she has to pass through flooded portions of the cemetery to get to the tomb of her deceased relative.

This is the situation at the Iloilo City Public Cemetery in Quintin Salas, Jaro District every time heavy rain pours.

“Lusong sa tubig, maglinis lang mamaya. Mahirap kasi siyempre malalim ang tubig. Mabuti sana kung mapahaba at lagyan ng maliit na daanan,” David said.

According to Milo Velasco, cemetery caretaker, it takes about four days for floodwater to recede.

"Nang sinemento ang daanan dito, na-ano ang kanal sa gilid. Parang hindi na lumalabas ang tubig. Mahirap maglagay ng aming mga gamit,” Velasco said.

Portions of other public cemeteries in Iloilo City such as in La Paz and Tanza are also flooded. According to Engr. Neil Ravena, head of the Iloilo City General Services Office (GSO), both poor drainage system and its absence cause flood woes.

He said that drainage systems are not easy to set up in public cemeteries. "Mahirap magpalaki ng drainage at mag-upgrade ng drainage system kasi hindi ka makakakilos nang maayos,” Ravena pointed out.

Ravena assured, though, that GSO will provide temporary walks at the three cemeteries mentioned.

At Tanza Public Cemetery, works on a drainage system have started. However, works are being interrupted by the need to ask permission from the family of the deceased in tombs affected.

“Ang nagpapatagal sa amin, 'yan ay to locate sa relatives ng may-ari ng puntod dahil legally, may implications kung i-transfer namin without the go signal from the relatives ng bangkay,” Ravena added.

Moreover, state weather bureau PAGASA said that the intertropical convergence zone is expected to affect Western Visayas during the observance of "Tigkalalag 2025."

"Make sure na mino-monitor natin ang ating latest weather updates and maghanda tayo sa maaaring pagbuhos ng ulan. Make sure may dala tayong payong,” said Jan Baron, weather facility technician of PAGASA Iloilo.