DAVAO CITY - The municipality of Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte has ordered the closure of some private and all public cemeteries from October 30 to November 4. "We have mentioned about the closure of some private cemetery because it is located in front of a public cemetery and we seek its closure to control the people from coming in. It will serve as a choke point to avoid mass gathering," Mart Sambalud, Sto. Tomas information officer, told Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday. He said other private cemeteries in the town are still under construction and development phase so they are not included in the closure order. Sambalud said the recommendation was based on the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) resolution ordering the closure of private and public cemeteries on the said dates. "The public will be allowed to visit their loved ones before October 30 and November 5 onwards," he added. Sambalud added that children aged 15 years
DAVAO CITY - A mass grave site will soon be built in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte as the town's public cemetery runs out of space due to mounting deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), an official said Wednesday. Mart Dumali Sambalud, Sto. Tomas information officer, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA), that they are currently scouting a lot for the site. "We are eyeing an [local government unit]-owned property here and it will eventually be used as the site," he said. The Covid-19 Task Force of Santo Tomas noted a significant rise in the number of deaths in Santo Tomas due to a surge in Covid-19 cases. As of October 5, Santo Tomas has registered a total of 141 pandemic-related deaths. Sambalud said the Santa Cruz Public Cemetery located in Barangay San Jose could no longer accommodate burials since the graves had already run-up to the boundary line of the cemetery. "As per Covid-19 regulations on the management of the dead, those who die that cannot afford