People start visiting cemeteries; authorities gear up ahead of Undas

Filipinos on Tuesday morning started to visit cemeteries a day ahead of Undas (All Saints' Day) as authorities geared up for security and traffic management in anticipation of the influx of visitors.

At the Manila North Cemetery in Sta. Cruz, Manila, a few visitors were observed entering the burial place, according to a report of Ivan Mayrina on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

Yuri Naverra of Manila North Cemetery’s administration office said that around 5,000 people visited the cemetery on October 29 and 7,000 people on Tuesday, October 31 so far.

"Siguro habang lumalapit ang pagdating ng Undas, mas marami po sa ngayon kasi bukas na po talaga iyong pinaka-Undas natin.

(As Undas approaches, we are expecting that more people will visit the cemetery because tomorrow is All Saints' Day.)

A family visits the tomb of their departed loved ones at the Manila North Cemetery on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, ahead of the All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2) crowds. Malacañang has declared November 1 and 2 as non-working days to enable families to pay respect to their departed kin. Danny Pata

Visitors have to undergo a security check upon entrance to the cemetery as some items are prohibited inside like liquors, pointed items, sound systems, and gambling equipment.

All types of vehicles and even bicycles are not allowed to enter the cemetery, according to the management of the Manila North Cemetery.

Around 350 police personnel have been deployed inside and outside the cemetery to provide security.

Force multipliers were also present including those from the barangay, Manila City Hall, Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, as well as the Bureau of Fire Protection to manage the peace and order in the area.

Vendors are also not allowed inside the cemetery.

The security personnel will watch out for those who will try to slip into the cemetery by climbing over the fence, according to the management.

Visitors were also advised to avoid littering.

Manila South Cemetery

At the Manila South Cemetery in San Andres, Manila, authorities are ready for the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, according to a report of Bam Alegre on Unang Balita.

Help desks have been set up by the local government and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to respond to the concerns of visitors.

The Philippine Red Cross also put up a first aid station.

At the entrance, a poster was on display reminding visitors of the prohibited items such as liquors, pointed items, sound equipment, and pets.

The cemetery is open from 5 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Bagbag Public Cemetery

At the Bagbag Public Cemetery in Quezon City, meanwhile, some visitors said they went to the cemetery early to avoid the expected large crowds and hot weather, according to a report of James Agustin on Unang Balita.

The cemetery is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. until November 2.

Prohibited items in the cemetery are pointed items, flammable materials, firearms, and gambling items. Parking inside the cemetery is also not allowed.

Vendors are allowed inside and outside the cemetery but they should comply with the regulations set by the city government’s Market Development and Administration Department.

The prices of flowers in the area also slightly increased. Radus flowers cost P40. Flowers with simple arrangements cost from P50 to P80, while those in baskets cost P150.

Candles cost from P10 to P100 depending on their size and variety.

Dagupan

At the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Dagupan, Pangasinan, many of the early visitors were also cleaning up the tombs of their loved ones, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon’s Russel Simorio reported on Unang Balita.

Misting operations were conducted in the cemeteries to avoid cases of dengue.

Visitors were advised to wear rain boots as some parts of the cemetery get flooded during a heavy downpour.

Due to the limited parking space, visitors were advised not to bring their vehicles.

Pointed items are allowed for the cleaning up of the tombs but they will be prohibited on All Saints' Day on Wednesday.

Some remains are still being transferred to newly built tombs in the cemetery.

At least around 90 cops have been deployed to provide security at the Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Cebu City

Meanwhile in Cebu City, some visitors were also spotted at Carreta Public Cemetery on Tuesday, according to a report of GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak’s Fe Marie Dumaboc on Unang Balita.

Some of the early visitors went there to clean the tombs of their departed loved ones.

Electricians from the church also started their work to provide lighting for the tombs ahead of the observance of Undas.

The Police Regional 7 (PRO 7) will intensify their monitoring with around 400 police personnel to be deployed in private and public cemeteries in the city.

Police reminded the public not to bring prohibited items like weapons and other pointed objects as well as liquors. Overnight stay in the cemeteries is also not allowed.

In anticipation of heavy traffic during the occasion, the local government will deploy traffic enforcers outside cemeteries.

Vendors of flowers and candles started to set up stalls around cemeteries. According to them, the price of flowers increased by P30 to P100.

Davao del Sur

At the Digos City Public Cemetery in Davao del Sur, a prayer activity will be held by the San Isidro Labrador Parish on Tuesday morning, according to a report of GMA Regional TV One Mindanao’s Rgil Relator on Unang Balita.

A few visitors were also seen at the cemetery on Tuesday morning ahead of Undas.

Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office said it will start to deploy its personnel in the area at noon on Tuesday.

Liquors and pointed items are prohibited to be brought inside the cemetery.

MMDA

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Undersecretary Procopio Lipana said heavy traffic is expected on roads near cemeteries.

“Sa kabuuan ng ating main thoroughfares ay medyo maluwag. Inaasahan natin bibigat ang trapiko sa mga malalapit sa sementeryo,” Lipana said.

(In general, the traffic in our main thoroughfares is quite light. We are expecting that the traffic on roads near cemeteries will become heavy.)

Chokepoints may occur due to vehicles coming from the south and north on November 1 and 2.

To manage the traffic, around 2,000 MMDA personnel will be deployed around major thoroughfares, Lipana said.

Help desks will be set up by local government units, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Land Transportation Office, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Provincial buses are allowed along EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to accommodate more passengers on Undas, Lipana said. —KG, GMA Integrated News