The San Juan City local government held an inspection of the city's cemetery and columbaries on Wednesday, Oct. 25, as part of its preparations for Undas 2023.
Mayor Francis Zamora leads the inspection of the San Juan City Cemetery to ensure the safety and security of those who will the place this coming Undas.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, together with other city government officials, led the inspection to ensure that the San Juan City Cemetery, along with the columbaries of St. John The Baptist and Santuario del Sto. Cristo, are prepared for the surge of people who will come during Undas.
According to Zamora, historical data showed that between 5,000-10,000 individuals are expected to visit their deceased loved ones in the city in the next few days.
"Nandito po tayo ngayon upang inspeksyunin ang San Juan Cemetery para sa paghahanda sa Undas 2023 at magbigay paalala sa mga mamamayan sa mga pwede at hindi pwede gawin sa loob ng sementeryo. Taun-taon ay may sapat tayong paghahanda at hindi pa nagkaroon ng insidente ng kaguluhan dito (We are here today to inspect San Juan Cemetery in preparation for Undas 2023 and to remind the public of what are allowed and prohibited to do inside the cemetery premises. Every year, we ensure that we have enough preparations to prevent any incident here)," Zamora said.
The mayor added members of San Juan PNP, BFP, Public Order and Safety Office and Task Force Disiplina will be deployed in cemeteries and columbaries to keep peace and order in the cemeteries. Quick Response Teams of the San Juan CDRRMO and CSWD booths will also be in the area should any individual need urgent medical care or help when children get lost.
The San Juan cemetery along with all personnel will be in full operation from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
San Juan PNP bike patrolers will also monitor the cemeteries and will only be the ones authorized to bring in bicycles inside the cemetery.
Bringing of sharp objects and firearms, illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, bicycles and motorcycles inside the cemetery will be prohibited. Playing loud music, littering, gambling, selling of items like flowers, food and drinks, and candles without special mayor's permit, and tapping of electricity are not allowed.
The mayor also announced that the city is preparing to build its own multi-level crematorium and columbarium by 2024.
"Kapag meron na tayong sariling pasilidad, they can be cremated here. We will have thousand of units of niches na pwede ihimlay ang ating mga pumanaw. At dahil magkakaroon na rin tayo ng chapel, maiiwasan yung mga ibuburol sa kalye. So hindi na yan mangyayari sa San Juan kapag mayroon na tayong chapel (If we have our own facility, they can be cremated here. We will have thousands of units of niches where they can lay to rest their deceased loved ones. Since we will also have a chapel, we can prevent burials along the street)," he explained.
Currently, the city provides burial and cremation assistance to deceased residents but Mayor Zamora would like to make the process easier for San Juaneños by providing these services.
The proposed multi-level columbarium and crematorium is still part of Makabagong San Juan's goal of taking care of its residents from "womb to tomb".