TALISAY City, Cebu will be closing all its public and private cemeteries from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, 2021 in compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases resolution.
However, residents of all ages can visit their departed loved ones in all cemeteries before and after the scheduled closure, Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. said.
In a Facebook post Saturday night, Oct. 23, 2021, Gullas said the city will follow the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) guidelines stating that all public and private cemeteries should be closed starting Friday, Oct. 29, until All Souls’ Day, November 2.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said their decision to close the cemeteries on these dates was based on the resolution passed by the IATF.
“Starting this weekend, we are giving our constituents some time to visit their departed loved ones at our public and private cemeteries, but we will still have some restrictions in place,” Mayor Gullas said.
Gullas, however, stated that the city will only allow at least half of each cemetery’s maximum capacity.
These are the cemeteries and the number of residents allowed to enter based on its expected 50 percent capacity:
* Cebu South Memorial Garden (Mohon)-1,200 pax;
* Evergreen Memorial Garden (SRP/San Roque)-125 pax;
* Talisay City Public Cemetery (Poblacion)-2,500 pax;
* Cansojong Cemetery (Cansojong)-2,500 pax; and
* Tanke Cemetery (Tanke)-1,500 pax.
Gullas’ guidelines also limited visitation time to only an hour.
Bringing in liquor, sound systems, and deadly weapons are also prohibited.
Visitors to the cemeteries will be required to wear their face masks at all times and maintain social distancing while inside the cemeteries.
Gullas said over 150 policemen, 240 citizen peace and order organizations, more than a hundred traffic personnel, members of the AFP, and disaster teams will be deployed at all the city’s cemeteries.
The mayor advises the public to remain vigilant and follow all protocols.
“Let us use this opportunity to visit our departed loved ones. But mamalihug lang ko, please cooperate with the authorities and follow sa mga protocols. Let’s make this Kalag-Kalag a safe and healthy one for all of us,” Gullas added.
Unlike Talisay, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City will stick to their Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 closure dates for all cemeteries and columbaria.
Cebu City, on the other hand, has sent a request letter to the IATF, formally asking the national body to allow the city to open its cemeteries and columbaria from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, 2021. (PR)