Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday announced that cemeteries in the city would be closed from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Kaya ko po ito ginagawa ngayon, para mabigyan kayo ng sapat na panahon ng humigit kumulang dalawang buwan na mabisita ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay na nahimilay sa mga pribado at pampublikong sementeryo,” Moreno explained in a Facebook post.
Moreno reminded his constituents that quarantine protocols prohibited mass gatherings in public areas.
“Tayo po ay nasa GCQ (general community quarantine). Ibig sabihin, may mga panahon, mga araw, oras na hindi natin kailangan magsiksikan, magpahirapan sa pila, na mabisita ang mga mahal sa buhay sa kani-kanilang mga pribadong sementeryo o kolumbaryo, o sa mga pampublikong sementeryo,” he said.
Last year, almost two million visitors flocked to the Manila North Cemetery, the largest cemetery in Metro Manila.
Under the latest directives from President Rodrigo Duterte, Metro Manila will be under GCQ until Sept. 30.
The country has recorded 241,987 Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday. John Ezekiel J. Hirro