P1.3 million for packed meals

Council approves budget for personnel who will be fielded for All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day

THE Cebu City Government has started its preparation for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day next week.

The City Council, during their regular session yesterday, approved a P1.3million budget for the meals of 2,560 personnel who will be fielded to keep cemeteries orderly and crime-free.

The amount will be charged to the City’s Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. funds, according to the approved resolution authored by Councilor Dave Tumulak.

For three days on Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, personnel from the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, barangay tanods and volunteers will man the cemeteries.

In an interview, Tumulak identified the cemeteries in Barangays Carreta, Calamba, Pardo and Talamban as priority areas for security.

“The purpose is to have visibility of uniformed security forces. We’re asking everyone to avoid bringing valuable possessions for precaution. We still prohibit the bringing of sharp objects, alcoholic drinks and smoking inside the cemeteries,” he said.

The City has 22 cemeteries. Six of these are located in the mountain barangays.

Tumulak, chairperson of the council’s public order and safety committee, also asked the public to keep the cemeteries clean.

As for the traffic situation around the cemeteries, Tumulak said a rerouting scheme will be implemented on a case-to-case basis.

Unlike in the previous years, he said the Cebu City Transportation Office will only divert the vehicles once large crowds are observed.

The City will also have its ambulances and barangay firetrucks deployed in case of emergencies.

“The usual problems we encounter every year are more on medical cases because it’s too hot. People experience difficulty in breathing, dehydration and loss of consciousness. We’re advising everyone to bring along water with them,” he said.

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District will also provide free drinking water in cemeteries, he said.

In a separate interview, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRRMO) head Nagiel Bañacia said they have started inspecting cemeteries in the city yesterday.

He said several trees inside the Calamba Cemetery, Pardo Cemetery and Carreta Cemetery needs pruning as well as those inside privatelyowned Queen City Memorial Gardens on A. Soriano St. and Cebu Veterans Cemetery in Barangay Labangon.

A team from CCDRRMO started pruning the trees inside Calamba cemetery last night.

They will work until 4 a.m. today before proceeding to the other cemeteries in the city.