Malacañang on Thursday raised the possibility of imposing alternative cemetery visitation schemes for Undas 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Titingnan po natin kung mayroong mga alternatibo dahil naniniwala naman po ako na importante sa mga Pilipino ang Undas,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said.

Roque said he would propose a staggered visitation scheme to reduce the number of people flocking to cemeteries.

“Ako mismo po, ang aking rekomendasyon, gawin na lang natin na hindi All Saints Day kung hindi mag-allot siguro tayo ng apat hanggang limang araw [ng pagbisita],” he said.

“Depende rin sa family name ng namatay kung sino ang pupuwedeng pumunta sa mga sementeryo ng hindi po lahat magdagsaan sa isang araw lamang,” he added.

Roque said he would present his proposals to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases during the task force’s next meeting.

City governments of Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Angeles in Pampanga have ordered the closure of cemeteries in their jurisdictions on Undas. John Ezekiel J. Hirro