Mayor Honey Lacuna announced the rules for visitors for the upcoming Undas or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2.
Lacuna said that no pets would be allowed to visit either Manila North Cemetery or Manila South Cemetery.
“Hindi po natin papayagan na makapasok muna or dalhin ang mga pets natin para na rin sa proteksyon ng ating mga pets pati na rin po yung mga kababayan natin na tutungo dito (We are not letting pets go in or be brought with for the safety and protection of the pets, as well as the people that will visit), ” Lacuna said.
Henry Dy, the officer in charge of the Manila South Cemetery, estimated that about 500,000 to 800,000 people will visit the cemetery this year.
The Manila North Cemetery is estimated to have 1 million to 1.5 million visitors, according to Lacuna.
Both cemeteries will have a scheduled time of 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM only for Undas so that the LGU can have time to clean up the cemeteries to be prepared for the next day.
“Ang influx kasi ng mga dumadalaw is November 1 talaga, expect po natin around 500 to 800,000 talaga dadalaw dito. Advise lang natin lalo na yung mga senior, aga-agahan hong pagpunta rito nang sa ganon ay hindi pa masyadong matao (The influx of people that visit is really November 1, we can expect around 500-800 thousand will visit. We advise everyone, especially the seniors to be early so that there won’t be so many people),” Dy said.
“Bawal na po ang sasakyan from October 30 to November 3, open din po ang gate natin sa dalaw from 5:00 a.m. hanggang 7:00 p.m. lang po. Wala po tayong overnight, kasi after ng 7:00 p.m. para may time pa kami maglinis para kinabukasan (Cars will not be allowed from October 30 to November 3, the gate is open for visits from 5:00 AM till 7:00 PM only. Overnights are not allowed, because after 7:00 PM, we need time to clean for the next day),” He added.
Meanwhile, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora announced that pets will be permitted to visit the San Juan Cemetery.
“Wala naman pong problema sa pets, we just have to be responsible. Kung kaya ‘wag sana tayong sabay-sabay sa October 31 at November 1 pumunta para lang ho hindi sabay-sabay (There are no problem with pets, we just have to be responsible. That’s why let’s not all go at the same time on October 31 and November 1 to avoid all people being there at the same time),” Zamora said.
The city’s cemetery is open from 6:00 AM till midnight. Zamora advises people to schedule their visits, especially senior citizens and people with disabilities, to minimize and control the crowd.
“Based sa aming historical data, yung mga pamilyang dumadalaw po ay enough naman po hanggang 12-midnight. Hindi naman po kalakihan ang aming sementeryo kumpara po sa iba (Based on our historical data, the families that visit are enough to stay until 12-midnight. Our cemetery is not that big compared to others),” Zamora said.
Items such as firearms, weapons, alcohol, and cards are not allowed to be brought in and will be confiscated upon entrance.
Upon exit, there will be 18 vendors that the LGU permits.
For safety and police visibility, the San Juan City Police will deploy bike patrollers inside and outside the cemetery.
“Nandito po ang San Juan Police, meron din tayong bike patrollers na iikot. Meron tayong help desk dito sa entrance at meron tayon staff na tutulong sa ating mamamayan kung sakaling meron silang pangangailangan. We expect thousands of people to visit San Juan Cemetery in the next few days (San Juan Police are present, we also have bike patrollers that will patrol. We have a help desk at the entrance and there are staff that will help our people if ever they are in need of something),” Zamora said.
