TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Oct. 22 (PIA) -- Gov. Arthur Yap has ordered the closure of all cemeteries from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 to minimize the risk of a super-spreader event during the All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day.

Through Executive Order No 53, series of 2021, the governor has formalized the local adoption of the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)  Resolution which recommended the five-day closure to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission during the Adlaw sa mga Santos and Kalag-kalag on Nov. 1 and 2.

Earlier in a meeting with the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging infectious Strategic Communications Cluster (BIATF StratCom) on Oct. 18, the governor said he is recommending to the mayors the adoption of the national policy which, according to Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año, is to close all cemeteries in the country from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. 

Adlaw sa mga Santos and Kalag-kalag are among the Filipino family traditions of visiting their departed relatives to offer them flowers and prayers. 

While the tradition is rooted in the Catholic faith, many have shifted the religious practice into time and venue for socialization, reunion and clan gatherings in memorial parks and cemeteries.

“With the continued threat of COVID-19 especially with the Delta variant in Bohol, even when the Department of Health, upon looking at the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in Bohol, the lessening hospital bed utilization rate and the lowered Intensive Care Unit occupancy,” the governor said, as he fears that loosening the policies in Bohol migh trigger another surge.

“The move is to avoid the congregation of people who traditionally flock to the cemeteries during those dates and minimize the risk of super spreader events during the Undas,” Yap said.

The EO, however, suggested that people rather visit the cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaria before the closure dates or before Oct. 29 and after Nov. 2.

With the national IATF, Bohol also put up similar guidelines, that visitors must still be limited to ten persons per group, and the venue must only allow 50% capacity.

With this, masses and religious services during the closure dates are allowed in churches, depending on the allowed capacity and strict observance of health and safety standards and protocols.

Authorities would still be fielding monitors and personnel to assure that the policy is followed and that the visitors follow the minimum public health standards to prevent COVID-19 transmission. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)