1 million seen to visit Manila North Cemetery

MANILA, Philippines — An estimated one million people are expected to flock to the Manila North Cemetery for the reopening of the cemeteries this Undas since the pandemic.

In a dzRH interview yesterday, Manila North cemetery director Roselle Castañeda said the management expects the same number as the number of cemetery goers pre-pandemic or on Nov. 1, 2019. The cemetery has been closed for Undas since 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

At least 328 police officers will be deployed at the country’s largest cemetery, Castañeda added.

Manila Police District personnel yesterday conducted flushing operations to clean the entrance for the visit of National Capital Region Police Office chief Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, who inspected the cemetery.

Castañeda reminded the cemetery goers that they will no longer be allowed to paint over their loved ones’ graves starting today.

Cemetery goers who wish to clean tombstones can still bring garbage bags, brooms and dust pans.

Members of the EcoWaste Coalition held a demonstration yesterday in the cemetery to urge visitors to keep Undas trash-free.

“We appeal to our fellow Filipinos to make this year’s observance of Undas different from the pre-pandemic celebrations marred by tons of garbage left by cemetery visitors and vendors,” the group’s zero waste campaigner, Jove Benosa, said in a statement.