DAVAO City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday, March 10, issued Executive Order (EO) 11 Series of 2021 or "An Order Regulating The Operation Of Funeral Parlors, Cemeteries, Memorial Parks And Columbariums Effective Until The State Of Calamity (Presidential Proclamation 1021 Series of 2020) Is Lifted" effective immediately.

Duterte-Carpio, in her EO, said, "There is a need to regulate wakes and burials to avoid mass gathering during these activities."

She reiterated that medical specialists have identified mass gathering as a source of transmission of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Because of this, the mayor ordered that only family members are allowed in a wake at home, a funeral parlor, or any other place, and also only family members may attend a burial.

She also said the family in charge of the wake or burial and the funeral parlor or event management or cemetery management must ensure that there is no mass gathering among the family members. The family in charge of the wake and burial must keep a record of the date and time of the visit of all family members.

Face masks, distancing of at least one meter, and alcohol must be required of the visiting family members, according to her. She also said this applies to all faith groups, including Muslims.

The kin allowed to attend a wake or burial is a person within the fourth degree of affinity or consanguinity of the deceased.

The executive order allows persons below 15 years old and above 65, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women to attend a wake or a burial of a family member and they may also visit the cemetery, memorial park, or columbarium where their family members are buried. But they are not allowed to attend wakes and burials and visit cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums of non-relatives.

Family members, must not occupy more than 50 percent of the room where the casket is located, as physical distancing must be observed in all areas of the residential house, funeral home, and other wake venues. At least a one-meter distance shall be observed among family members in the cemetery, memorial park, or columbarium during burial.

The cemeteries are allowed to formulate their own guidelines to prevent overcrowding, provided that the distance between persons is at least one meter.

Duterte’s EO 11 also mandates the 24-hour liquor ban for the duration of the state of calamity. (PR)