News

Cebu City Cemeteries Closed on Kalag-Kalag

Published

3 years ago

October 28, 2021

Cebu City government decided to close cemeteries in the city from October 29 to November 2, 2021, to adhere to the IATF’s directive for the observance of Kalag-Kalag or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama announced the closure of cemeteries on his Facebook page yesterday, October 27, 2021.

“We adhere to the advice of DILG on the closure of cemeteries on Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. Thus, today we issue an amendment to our directive. Cemeteries will still be open today and tomorrow, Oct. 28, then again on Nov. 3 to 5, 2021.” Rama said.

It can be remembered that the Cebu City government appealed to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), presenting the city’s guidelines for the observation of Kalag-Kalag.

However, the DILG did not approve the request of the Cebu City government to exempt them on the said closure.

The DILG’s directive states that all local government units are advised to implement ordinances to forbid the entry to cemeteries, memorial parks, columbaria from October 29 to November 2, 2021.

The directive aims to avoid a potential “super spreader event” that might happen when people flock inside cemeteries.

Moreover, Rama said that they are now preparing for future holidays and events.

“We will continue to work together. There is much to do ahead. Guided now by the parameters in the IATF alert level system, we will prepare next for the Christmas holidays, the Sinulog festivities, political campaigns, and more,” Rama said.

“Should certain initiatives we agree to undertake go beyond the parameters of the new IATF guidelines, we will seek for exemption as we did for Kalag-Kalag. Bottom line, we have to open more our economy but with tact and prudence,” Rama added. (ASC)