Filipinos head to cemeteries to honor departed loved ones

FILIPINOS took advantage of the long holiday break to visit their deceased loved ones in cemeteries across the country.

Foot traffic is expected to be heavy on the roads leading to cemeteries given that All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2) are non-working days.

The Philippine National Police has deployed more than 27,000 police officers nationwide to ensure public security.

Meanwhile, Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged parents and caregivers not to bring small children to cemeteries, as ”overcrowding, intense heat, and sudden, unexpected downpours may cause diseases in small children.”

Herbosa said that the threat of COVID-19 remains. 

He also cautioned against patronizing ambulant vendors inside and outside of the cemeteries selling green mangoes, sandwiches, fruit juices, and other similar food items since these may be contaminated by unsafe water and other elements of the environment, which may compromise the health and safety of consumers.

The DOH urged the public to bring their own water and food to ensure their safety and prevent diseases, as well as avoid bringing salads and other food that may easily spoil due to heat.

According to PAGASA, Metro Manila, Mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Bulacan, Calabarzon, Marinduque, and Camarines Norte will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday because of the low pressure area and shear line.

Cordillera Administrative Region, Nueva Ecija, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region and the rest of Central Luzon will have partly to cloudy skies with rains due to the Northeast Monsoon.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail in Visayas, Mindanao, the rest of Mimaropa, and the rest of Bicol Region.