Filipinos visit relatives’ graves at the Parañaque Public Cemetery on Nov 1, 2019 | PHOTO BY MICHAEL DALOGDOG
By CBCP News
Sep 22 2020
MANILA – All cemeteries and columbaria in the Philippines will be closed from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 as a precautionary measure against coronavirus, Malacañang said Friday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the decision was made to avoid crowding during All Saints and All Souls Day.
“The rationale is to prevent gatherings that we are used to during Undas,” Roque said in a press briefing.
He instead encouraged the public to visit their departed loved ones on or after the said dates.
He clarified that cemeteries will be opened but only with a limited capacity of 30 percent during the period before Oct. 29 and after Nov. 4.
“This means we can visit before and after the cemeteries are closed but the capacity is 30 percent,” Roque said.
The Archdiocese of Manila has earlier urged the faithful to schedule the blessing of the tombs of their dear departed ahead of the annual observance of All Saints and All Souls Day.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, said priests are always available to bless the tombs and to celebrate Masses for the dead ahead of the annual observance. – CBCP
