Angeles City orders closure of cemeteries from October 30 to November 2

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr has ordered the closure of all private and public cemeteries in Angeles City from October 30 to November 2, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among people observing All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

In issuing Executive Order No. 19, Series of 2020, Lazatin said that every year, crowds flock to cemeteries from October 30 to November 2 and that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and prohibition of mass gatherings are among the measures being implemented to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

“While the city government respects the Filipino tradition of remembering our departed loved ones, the mass gathering of people on these particular days poses danger to spread disease due to the lack of social distancing,” he said in the EO issued on Tuesday, September 8.

The mayor encouraged residents to “consider alternative dates to visit the cemetery and honor their departed loved ones.”

Lazatin also ordered the suspension of the celebration of the twin fiesta celebrations in Angeles City in October, including the annual Mardi Gras-like Tigtigan Terakan King Dalan and the Mutya NIng Angeles pageant.

Through Memorandum no. 1079, Series of 2020, the mayor informed all barangay chairpersons in the city that all community events related to the La Naval Fiesta and Feast of Apung Mamacalulu (Merciful Lord) are canceled this year.

The twin fiestas were usually celebrated through daily activities and festive events throughout the month of October.

Most of the residents who commented on the city government’s Facebook posts on the closure of cemeteries and suspension of the twin fiesta celebrations on Wednesday lauded Lazatin for his action, some saying that many of their fello residents need to be forced to observe minimum health protocols.

As of September 8, Angeles City recorded 407 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 153 of them active cases.

The city of Manila had also ordered the closure of all cemeteries from October 31 to November 3. – Rappler.com