Wearing a face mask is advisable but not required when visiting the Muntinlupa City Public Cemetery as the local government prepares for this year’s Undas.
“Though face mask is advised, but not mandatory,” the Muntinlupa City Public Information Office told GMA News Online on Monday.
The Muntinlupa City gov’t. said its public cemetery will be open from October 31 to November 2 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“The Muntinlupa City Public Cemetery will be open from October 31 to November 2, from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Grave cleaning and repainting are allowed until October 28, while no burial or cremation schedules will be accommodated from October 31 to November 2,” the LGU said.
Preparations are already underway as the Bureau of Fire Protection conducted flushing operations to clean major roads and cemetery surroundings, clean-up drives were also conducted to clear pathways and obstructions, and the city’s engineering department carried out repairs and repainting of public facilities.
“In anticipation of the influx of visitors, Mayor Ruffy Biazon ordered the activation of Task Force Undas, composed of various city departments tasked with crowd control, medical assistance, traffic rerouting, and public information dissemination,” city hall added.
The local government also reminded that gambling, alcoholic beverages, sharp objects, videoke or loud sound systems, selling inside or outside cemetery premises, and parking or driving vehicles within cemetery grounds are strictly prohibited.
As for health concerns, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) earlier said that they have seen a roughly 10% rise in cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) since three to four weeks ago, with the majority of these cases being pediatric, geriatric, or with comorbidities. But the number of cases is plateauing.
The Department of Health has repeatedly stressed that there were no outbreaks, despite class suspensions and local government advisories. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
