OPEN TO VAXXED VISITORS.Public and private cemeteries in Iloilo City are open from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, 2021 to vaccinated individuals to visit their dead relatives. In a press conference on Thursday (Oct. 7, 2021), Jeck Conlu, spokesperson for the Iloilo City Covid team, said only 50 percent of the capacity of the cemetery will be allowed to visit at a time.(Photo screenshot from virtual presser) ILOILO CITY - Public and private cemeteries in Iloilo City are open from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, 2021 and will allow vaccinated individuals to visit in the observance of All Saints' and All Souls' Days. "We will give them the opportunity to visit their dead relatives since we are already on general community quarantine but with heightened restrictions," said Jeck Conlu, spokesperson for the Iloilo City Covid team in a virtual press conference on Thursday. Their vaccination status may either be complete or first dose, as long as they are inoculated. They are advised to bring their vaccination card and identification card as proof of identity, he added. An inventory together with the management of 18 cemeteries in the city is also ongoing because only 50 percent of the capacity based on the number of dead persons that are interred in the cemetery will be allowed at a time. Personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) will be deployed in all entrance and exit points, especially in public cemeteries, to control the crowd. One safety officer will be designated in every cemetery to make sure that the 50 percent capacity is followed. However, food and alcoholic drinks are prohibited to prevent the visiting public from staying long inside the cemetery. They are only allowed to bring flowers and candles, as well as drinking water. Dr. Annabelle Tang, officer-in-charge at the City Health Office, said they will deploy health emergency staff as responders during the four days. "It is stressed by the City Health Office that as always there has to be compliance to health protocols. We will be supporting whatever strategy that will be imposed by our compliance team," she said. City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Donna Magno said they have already crafted an implementation plan to ensure the safety of responders and the general public, and to prevent major incidents. She added that they will be prepositioning emergency response and hold an hourly roving not only in cemeteries but also in areas of convergence such as terminals. (PNA) }