CEMETERIES in Lapu-Lapu City will be closed from October 31 to November 2, 2021 during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Under Executive Order 2021-054 issued by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, all private and public cemeteries, memorial parks and columbariums located in Lapu-Lapu City shall be closed to visitors during the three-day period.
An exception is made for immediate family members entering cemeteries and memorial parks during this period strictly to attend burial and cremation activities complying with social distancing requirements and other health standards.
Outside these dates, or from Oct. 15-30 and Nov. 3-16, 2021, the same shall be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with visiting guidelines subject to a schedule based on the family name of the visitor, and 30 percent capacity of the venue.
“Visitors shall be allowed to stay, pray and pay their respects for a maximum of two hours only in compliance with the visitation hours,” the executive order said.
The maximum number of visitors per two-hour schedule would be from 25 to 700 visitors depending on the size of the cemetery. Eating food and bringing alcoholic drinks are prohibited.
Visitors must wear masks and face shields.
These are in line with the order of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases that placed Lapu-Lapu under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions until October 31, 2021.
The Lapu-Lapu cemeteries are the municipal cemetery in Sitio Tugas, Barangay Gun-ob; the Roman Catholic Cemetery on Humay-Humay Road in Barangay Gun-ob; the cemetery for United Church of Christ in the Philippines members in Barangay Gun-ob; Mactan Island Memorial Garden in Barangay Marigondon; Haven of Peace Memorial Garden in Barangay Mactan; and St. Augustine Parish Cemetery in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Olango Island. (Alan Tangcawan)