MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government said it has prepared for All Saints ("Undas") and All Souls Day on November 1 and 2, respectively when Filipinos traditionally visit their departed relatives in various cemeteries.
Makati Police chief, Sr. Supt. Manuel Lukban said the city's police force is all set to undertake measures regarding traffic, vendors, parking and security particularly inside and at the perimeter of the Manila South Cemetery.
Lukban said Police Assistance Hubs (PAH) will be put up around the Manila South Cemetery to provide security to the public and monitor and confiscate prohibited items, including firearms, bladed weapons, liquor and loudspeakers or amplifiers.
According to Lukban, to allow for the cleaning of graves and mausoleums by caretakers, the Manila South Cemetery will be temporarily closed at around 12 noon on October 31, but visitors will be allowed to enter by 3 pm.
Lukban also said there will be designated areas for selling of food and drinks outside the cemetery, as vendors of food and drinks will not be allowed inside.
Police also advised motorists that motorcycles will only be allowed to park in designated areas where Bantay Bayan tents are erected, while four-wheel vehicles can park along Ayala Avenue Extension and Metropolitan Avenue.
Meanwhile the Makati Department of Environmental Services (DES) will focus on maintaining cleanliness in the said area through continuous clean-up operations from October 31 to November 2.
DES chief Danilo Villas said clean-up operations will be conducted by street sweepers, garbage collectors and other DES personnel from IEC and Solid Waste Management Division at the Manila South Cemetery starting October 31 until November 2.
Starting at midnight on October 31, the city government will implement a traffic rerouting plan to ease the flow of traffic within the vicinity of Manila South Cemetery, which will remain in effect until midnight of November 2, Makati Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Hermenegildo San Miguel earlier announced.
San Miguel also said that the color coding scheme will be suspended on November 1, Friday.
At midnight on October 31 until midnight of November 2, the following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic: Kalayaan Avenue – from Zapote Street to F. Zobel St.; South Avenue – from Metropolitan to J.P. Rizal; Vito Cruz – from South Avenue to Zapote St.; N. Garcia (formerly Reposo) Street – from Jupiter to JP Rizal; and Pililia Street – from J.P. Rizal to Kalayaan Avenue.
The following streets meanwhile will be open to two-way traffic: J.P. Rizal – from Pasong Tirad to Makati Avenue; Kalayaan Avenue – from F. Zobel St. to Makati Avenue and from Pasong Tirad to Zapote St.
Motorists are advised to expect heavy traffic and take alternate routes and avoid the Manila South Cemetery area.