People start flocking to cemeteries ahead of Undas 2022

People started going to cemeteries as early as Monday morning to avoid the expected huge crowds visiting their deceased loved ones on All Saints’ Day on November 1.

In an Unang Balita report of GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog’s Andrew Bernardo, several visitors were seen entering the Batangas Public Cemetery despite the slight rainfall.

Pointed objects, firearms, liquor, and gambling items are prohibited in the cemetery. Children 11 years old and below are also advised not to be brought inside for safety purposes.

According to the Batangas City local government unit, visitors would only be allowed to visit their deceased loved ones until 7 p.m. from October 31 to November 2.

They also encouraged everyone to keep on wearing their face masks. A safety protocol officer would be designated to ensure that minimum public health standards are observed in the cemetery.

Batangas Police Provincial Office director Police Colonel Pedro Soliba said that they would inspect not just the cemeteries, but the bus terminals and piers in Batangas as well.

Meanwhile, at the Manila North Cemetery, the public are only allowed entry from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.

In an interview with GMA News’ Ivan Mayrina, Manila Police District director Police Brigadier General Adrei Dizon said the Manila City local government unit ordered the visiting schedule to ensure that the civilians are already safe at night.

Dizon said they expect 1.4 million people flocking the Manila cemeteries starting Monday until Undas. They were reminded to adhere to health protocols, particularly the wearing of face masks.

A thousand police personnel would also be deployed in these areas to ensure the security of the public.

“Mula pa po nu'ng pagpasok ng Oktubre, nakapaghanda na po tayo. Nag-conduct na tayo ng Oplan Galugad, nag-set up na rin tayo ng mga police assistance desks sa loob at sa labas ng ating semetenteryo, at ‘yung ating force multipliers natin na-tap na rin nating kung saan sila made-deploy,” Dizon said.

(Since the start of October, we have been preparing. We have conducted Oplan Galugad, we have also set up police assistance desks inside and outside our cemeteries, and our force multipliers were already tapped where they would be deployed.)

According to a separate report of GMA News’ Bam Alegre, all systems go at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City which opened to visitors at 5 a.m. on Monday.

Law enforcers would be implementing the following traffic rerouting scheme until Tuesday to avoid the build up of vehicles:

• 1-way east bound traffic:
• Bonifacio Avenue - Barangka Flyover - Shoe Avenue Stoplight

Those going to Loyola Gate 2:

• Turn left to Plaza de las Flores, turn left to Paspasan St., then turn right to Don Gonzalo Puyat Street

Those going to Loyola Gate 1:

• Turn right to Paspasan St., then turn left to Chorillo St., then turn left to Bonifacio Avenue

Flower vendors are also set beside the cemetery, selling a basket with anthurium for P100, a basket with roses for P250, and a basket with assorted flowers for P800.

On the other hand, Nikko Sereno of GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak reported that authorities have prepared early for the influx of people at the Carreta Catholic Cemetery in Cebu City.

The cemetery would be open to the public from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.

The Cebu City Police would also be deploying about 450 personnel to ensure the safety of the public.

Meanwhile, in Davao City, public cemeteries were scheduled to be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. from October 30 to November 2.

However, as early as 5:30 a.m. on Monday, the Wireless Public Cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in the country, already allowed visitors to enter, according to a report by Jandi Esteban of GMA Regional TV One Mindanao on Unang Balita.

Visitors' belongings are checked prior to entry to make sure no contraband items such as alcoholic beverages and gambling paraphernalia are brought in.

Authorities also urged visitors to wear face masks even in open spaces.

Around 3,000 personnel including police officers and soldiers were deployed in 35 cemeteries in Davao City by the Public Safety and Security Command Center to ensure peace and order during Undas.

Meanwhile, the prices of flowers went up by P5 to P10 in Davao City.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier declared October 31, 2022, a special non-working holiday. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ/KG, GMA News