Bacolod's Task Force All Saints' Day declares readiness for Nov. 1 and 2
BACOLOD CITY – This city's Task Force All Saints' Day is all set for tomorrow's observance where people flock to the cemeteries to visit their loved ones and relatives. The task force has since made the necessary preparations particularly on the traffic plan, cleaning of various public cemeteries, security, and regulation of flower businesses around the public plaza and markets.
Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the city as part of its standard operating procedure prepared everything in anticipation of the annual event.
All city public cemeteries were cleaned up as Bacoleños are expected to flock starting tomorrow, All Saints' Day.
Some of them are also expected to stay overnight at the tombs of their dead.
Senior Insp. Levy Pangue, Traffic Management Unit and Bacolod Traffic Authority Office head, said they already designed a traffic scheme for busy streets like those going to East, Burgos as well as Alijis Road.
"The scheme is similar to last year," Pangue said.
Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Wilson Gamboa Jr. recently approved the temporary traffic re-routing scheme endorsed by the Sr. Insp. Pangue that could ease the traffic congestion experienced by the Bacoleños every All Saints Day.
Gamboa, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation, once again appealed to all private and public utility vehicles to be considerate as most people troop to the cemeteries on November 1 and 2.
Earlier, BTA Chief Levy Pangue announced that the Burgos-Lopez Jaena Sts. will be closed since it is very near the Burgos Public Cemetery.
Pangue also informed the public that commuters coming from downtown area and any adjacent places will turn right to Gonzaga Extension St. or to the eastern part of Bacolod City.
He declared that the portion of Lopues East going to Rolling Hill Cemetery and Chinese Cemetery will be one way and those coming from Alangilan Granada road will turn right to Yakal St. going to Brgy, Villamonte to avoid traffic congestion.
Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda on the other hand said the Permits and Licensing Division already issued at least 250 permits to flower vendors around the Bacolod City Public Plaza and 50 in Burgos and Libertad markets.
No permit is required to vendors around the Burgos Cemetery for humanitarian consideration but they were regulated by the city to prevent congestion and traffic obstruction.
Bacolod City Police Office Director Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar assured the public of police visibility in every corner of crowded places to prevent the occurrence of crimes.
Policemen will be detailed to the eight cemeteries in Bacolod, namely, the Rose Lawns Memorial Park in Barangay Bata; the Burgos Public cemetery, Barangay Villamonte; the Chinese cemetery, Barangay Estefania; the Handumanan Public cemetery, Barangay Handumanan; the Granada cemetery, Barangay Granada; the Bacolod Memorial Park, Barangay Alijis; the Sacred Heart cemetery, Barangay Sum-ag; and the Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Barangay Estefania.
He advised the people to ensure the safety of their houses before going to the cemetery because some bad elements of society take advantage of the situation.