Over 74,000 individuals visited the cemeteries and columbaria in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and Quezon on All Saints' Day on Wednesday, Nov.1.
As of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that around 30,382 individuals already visited the 30 cemeteries and columbaria in the city to pay their respects to their departed loved ones.
It said that the current situations in the burial sites and columbaria are “quite and peaceful.”
No untoward incidents related to Undas were recorded as of 1 p.m. while no prohibited items such as pointed or bladed weapons, alcoholic beverages, firearms, gambling paraphernalia, illegal drugs, and sound amplifying devices were confiscated.
The QCPD said it also set up 42 police assistance desks and deployed 176 men to 26 transport hubs/terminals (bus terminals and train stations) on Nov. 1 to ensure a peaceful and orderly All Saints' Day.
Members of the QC Department of Public Order and Safety, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, QCPD, Traffic and Transport Management Department, and barangay personnel were deployed to Bagbag and Novaliches cemeteries.
In Caloocan City, 28,400 residents and visitors were recorded in the eight cemeteries and columbaria on Wednesday.
The Caloocan City Police Station (CCPS) said it was expecting around 313,000 cemetery visitors on Nov. 1
Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan said he already deployed city government personnel to monitor the cemeteries and maintain peace and order.
He reminded visitors not to bring weapons, liquor, and sound-amplifying devices in the cemeteries to ensure that the commemoration of Undas will be organized and peaceful.
CCPS chief Col. Ruben Lacuesta said that 287 Philippine National Police personnel and 384 force multipliers were assigned to different areas in the city.
The city government also closed roads for Undas including Sangandaan Junction going to Tugatog boundary (for Sangandaan Cemetery), and the southbound lane of C3 road to 8th Street (La Loma Cemetery), from 5 a.m. on Nov. 1 until 1 a.m. on Nov. 2.
There were around 3,480 people who visited the three cemeteries and one columbarium in Navotas City, while 9,000 visited the 11 cemeteries in Valenzuela City.
Lacuesta and Col. Mario Cortes, Navotas City Police Station (NCPS) chief said that the commemoration of Undas in their cities as of 1 p.m. was generally peaceful.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian inspected public and private cemeteries on Nov. 1 to ensure a peaceful Undas.
The city government also deployed its “Ligta sUndas” team to man public and medical assistance desks.
In Malabon City, 3,875 persons already visited eight cemeteries in the city as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Malabon City government posted on its Facebook page its guidelines and emergency numbers that residents can contact for assistance during the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day commemoration: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02TSfY6y9jecBEemvj5eWz9zpk1mrbpRmpvqKh6whonqdTTt89JBkGBaSHJ4vziH6Xl&id=100083401661702&mibextid=Nif5oz
It also shared on its Facebook page a link where residents can check the names of the dead buried at Tugatog Public Cemetery, which is currently undergoing redevelopment.