San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the city government will deploy police bike patrollers in all its cemeteries to serve as additional manpower in maintaining peace and order during the observance of Undas 2022.
According to Zamora, the bike patrollers are tasked to monitor the situation both inside and outside the cemeteries as the city government is expecting more than 10,000 visitors to flock in cemeteries following the easing of Covid-19 protocols.
The bike patrollers will also monitor the capacities of the city's cemeteries to make sure that, in spite of the eased Covid-19 restrictions, proper health and safety protocols will still be observed to mitigate the transmission of the virus.
Aside from the deployment of the police and other peace and order elements of the city government, volunteers from Philippine Red Cross and staff from City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMC), and City Social Welfare and Development Department (CSWD) will also be assigned to respond to health-related incidents that may occur.
Zamora also reminded the public that bringing of speakers and other items that create noise, firearms and sharp objects like knives and ice picks, illegal drugs, and alcoholic beverages inside and around the city's cemeteries are strictly prohibited.
Gambling and bringing of bikes and motorcycles inside the gravesites are also not allowed.
Meanwhile, selling of food and refreshments, flowers, and candles will only be permitted for those who are given a special business permit and only by the gates of the city cemeteries.
Zamora earlier said that the city government has revamped its visitation protocols which include the removal of the online booking appointment protocol to prevent overcrowding and adjusted the voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors.
“Palalawigin ang oras ng pagbisita sa sementeryo at hindi na rin titingnan ang vaccination cards. Ngunit kapag umabot na sa 50 percent ang kapasidad ng tao ay ipapatupad na ang mandatory na pagsusuot ng face masks. Ang mga pulis, miyembro ng Public Order and Safety Office at mga personnel ng sementeryo ay magbabantay para mapanatili ang mga tamang protocols (The visitation hours at the cemetery have been extended and we will no longer check vaccination cards. However, once the number of visitors reaches the 50 percent capacity of the cemetery, we will enforce the mandatory wearing of face masks. The police, members of the Public Order and Safety Office, and cemetery personnel will continuously monitor the situation on the ground to ensure the strict observance of proper safety protocols),” the mayor said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
He then urged the public to follow the Covid-19 safety protocols despite the easing of some restrictions such as the mandatory wearing of face masks in outdoor setting and limiting the capacity of some establishments.