To avoid huge crowds of people during Undas or All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, Malacañang said that all public and private cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums in the entire country will be closed from October 29 to November 4.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement after Metro Manila mayors agreed to close all cemeteries during All Souls' and All Saints' holidays to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In his press briefing, Roque urged the public to visit their departed loved ones before or after the week-long closure of cemeteries.
"All cemeteries and columbariums in the entire country will be closed from October 29 to November 4," he said.
"We can visit these places before their closure or after their reopening," he added.
According to Roque, all cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums in the entire country will be open to the public from September 17 to November 15 but only at a maximum of 30 percent of the venue's capacity.
He said that the age restrictions currently being implemented will not apply to visitors to the said places from September 17 to November 15.
"The age restrictions on visitors to the said places will not apply because we know that both senior citizens and the minors would want to remember the lives of their departed loved ones," Roque said.
Roque, meanwhile, appealed for the public's understanding regarding the move to close cemeteries during the Undas season, saying the government is just trying to protect everybody from COVID-19.
"The rationale here is so we can prevent the crowding in cemeteries during Undas. Personally, I am saddened by this," he said.
"This is only during the pandemic anyway and we know that COVID-19 loves crowded places," he added.
The Palace official, however, reminded the public that the wearing of face masks and face shields and social distancing measures are still required when visiting cemeteries.
Last week, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque suggested that there should be a system for this year's All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day observation or Undas to prevent the exodus of people to cemeteries in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.