Sibalom Public Cemetery in Sibalom, Antique (PNA file photo) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - The Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (PIATF) on coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has allowed cemeteries in Antique to open from October 25 to 31. Margie Gadian, secretary of the PIATF, said local government units (LGUs) agreed in a meeting on Oct. 16, to start preparations in the province's 52 cemeteries in anticipation of early visits. "Cleaning up of the cemeteries should have to be done now," she said in an interview on Monday. Last year, the provincial government closed all public and private cemeteries on All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day due to the pandemic. Gadian said they are currently waiting for the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) regarding the measure. "The Antique Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19 will again be meeting before the end of this month to decide if the cemeteries will be open by November 1 to 2," she said. Meanwhile, Gadian said the local police will be deploying personnel even before Oct. 25 to ensure that family members who will be cleaning up the tombs of their dead loved ones would be secured. "The police will make sure that there will be no bladed weapon or alcohol that would be carried by those who would be visiting the tombs only flowers and candles," she said. (PNA) }