INTERMENT and cremation services provided by public and private memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbariums located in Cebu City will be exempt from a temporary closure order issued by Mayor Edgardo Labella.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, Labella issued Executive Order No. 92 for the temporary closure of public and private cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaries located within Cebu City starting Oct. 30 until Nov. 3.

Labella ordered the five-day closure to prevent any public gatherings in view of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day celebrations.

However, cremation and interment services offered by these establishments will continue.

“There is a need for the City Government of Cebu to temporarily close memorial parks, cemeteries, and columbaries in the City during the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, as well as the days leading to and after these events so as to prevent the expected influx and gathering of people inside these areas,” Labella said in his order.

Any violation of the order may lead to a revocation of the establishment’s business permit.

Labella has directed the Cebu City Police Office, City Health Department, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (Probe) team, and the Business Permit and Licensing Office, together with barangay officials, to implement provisions of the EO.

The measure is meant to prevent the further transmission of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

For his part, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, Emergency Operations Center deputy chief implementer, said the city’s 17 checkpoints will be activated during the five-day closure to ensure that people will not attempt to go to cemeteries and columbaries.

Garganera said he will meet with the city’s barangay captains to discuss the matter.

Considering the number of people who flock to cemeteries on All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day every year, Garganera said Labella’s early announcement was a “good move” so people could now schedule a visit to memorial parks, columbariums and cemeteries as early as September.

Cebu City has around 23 public and private cemeteries. (JJL)