Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Tuesday suspended work at the Manila City Hall for today, Oct. 31, to give local government employees ample time to visit, pray for and honor their departed loved ones during the observance of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1.
Office work will resume on Nov. 5, Estrada said, as he instructed the Manila Police District to secure the city’s four cemeteries, with more than two million visitors expected to troop to them on Nov. 1 and 2.
The four city-owned graveyards are the 54-hectare Manila North Cemetery in Sta. Cruz, the largest in Metro Manila; La Loma Catholic Cemetery; Manila Chinese Cemetery; and Manila South Cemetery, which is located in Makati City but still part of Manila’s territory.
At least 4,000 members of the MPD will be deployed to the cemeteries during the “Undas” celebration from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2.
Meanwhile, the Quezon City government ordered a half-day work today, not because of the rains due to Typhoon “Rosita,” but to give city hall workers the leeway to visit their dearly departed.
Mayor Herbert Bautista made it official in a one-page memorandum sent to all department heads, chief of offices, task forces, and city hall units.
Bautista said the order does not cover officers and staff of the City Civil Registry, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Health Department, Social Services and Development Department, Department of Public Order and Safety, and Quezon City Police District.
Those involved in security, safety, health, cleanliness and related activities must report for work, the mayor reasoned.
Estrada said while office work at the city was suspended, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, the Manila Health Department, Department of Public Order and Safety, and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau will continue to report for work and assist the MPD.
The mayor reminded the public that bag inspections will be stringent at the cemetery entrances. Alcoholic drinks, gambling paraphernalia, loud speakers, and deadly weapons such as knives, and pets are prohibited. Cooking and sleeping overnight inside the cemeteries are also not allowed.
Estrada also instructed Manila North Cemetery director Dandan Tan and Bha Bueza of the Manila South Cemetery to hasten repairs of cemetery facilities, especially the comfort rooms, streets and pathways.
