WEARING face masks in the cemeteries during Undas is ‘mandatory’, said the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
“Ang gihimo sa safety cluster and the City Health, gi-mandatory ang face mask sa pagbisita diha sa sementeryo (The safety cluster and the City Health said that wearing of face mask is mandatory during the Undas observation inside the cemeteries),” Police Major Catherine Dela Rey, DCPO Spokesperson, said during an ambush interview with SunStar Davao on October 19, 2022.
Dela Rey said personnel will be dispatched to patrol inside the cemeteries to monitor the situation and ensure that the minimum public health standards are observed.
“Katong mga PNP (Philippine National Police) personnel nga naa sa sulod nga ga-roving, i-imposed gyud nato ug manakop gyud sila [violators] (There will be PNP personnel who will roam around the area and they will impose the health standard and apprehend violators if any),” Dela Rey said.
She said they already disseminated the guidelines for the Undas observation.
“Wala man ta nagkulang og pag-inform na mandatory ang pag-wear of face mask and then sa gawas pud semeteryo naa pud tay ipangbutang na mga tarpaulin kung unsa ang mga do’s and don’ts (We already informed the public even before the undas that they are required to wear face mask. We will also put tarpaulins outside the cemeteries about the do’s and don’ts),” Dela Rey said.
Aside from the mandatory wearing of face masks, Dela Rey said recently there will be no burial activities that should be held inside the cemeteries from October 30 to November 3, 2022.
She said people are not allowed to stay overnight in the public cemeteries since the operating hours are only from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, however, private cemeteries can set their own operating hours.
Meanwhile, upon entry, visitors are also subject to temperature checks and medical tents and personnel are on standby to respond to emergencies.
While parking areas vehicles will be designated by the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) with one entrance and one exit policy in place.
Dela Rey said tricycles will not be allowed inside cemeteries while ambulant vendors or peddlers who have Special Permits from the City Mayor’s Office are only allowed to sell outside cemeteries.
She said security measures like wearing jackets, and backpacks, playing loud music or karaoke, gambling, alcoholic drinks, and sharp, pointed objects are also not allowed inside the cemeteries.
“Drone dili pud allowed, except katong sa mga naay security runs na gikan sa (Drones are also not allowed except those with permitted security runs with the) Public Safety and Security Command Center. Naa man gud mag picture-picture og aerial view, bawal na (Some people usually take aerial photos using drones, that is not allowed),” Dela Rey said. KSD