By Hilda Austria/ Philippine News Agency
DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Marc Brian Lim has ordered the temporary closure of public and private cemeteries from Oct. 28 to November 3 to discourage gatherings or crowds of people during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
“In view of the surge in cases and considering that the hospitals in the city, including Region 1 Medical Center, are already operating at full-bed capacity, there is a need to impose stringent measures to arrest the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases and give the medical facilities sufficient time to cope with the steep rise in the number of positive cases,” Lim said in Executive Order (EO) No. 31 issued on Wednesday (Sept. 29).
Large gatherings of people, such as the festivities, are strongly discouraged as a matter of health and safety precautions given the current health emergency, he added.
“During the said period, no visitors or activities shall be allowed inside the cemeteries, except interment and cremation services. Those allowed to attend the permitted activities are directed to strictly comply with the minimum public health standards and physical distancing, and cannot stay and spend time inside the cemetery longer than what is necessary for the completion of the permitted activity,” Lim stated in the EO.
He urged those intending to visit their departed loved ones to go to the cemeteries before or after the implementation period of the EO.
The Public Order and Safety Office and the City Health Office, with the assistance of other agencies, are tasked to strictly enforce and monitor compliance with the EO.
“Persons found in violation of these guidelines shall be appropriately sanctioned, prosecuted, and penalized under existing national laws and local legislation,” Lim added. (PNA) – bny
