Manila: Some 2.17 million people visited the Manila North and South cemeteries to pay respects to their dearly departed during the ‘Undas’ (All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days) holidays, the city government said Monday. In a statement, Mayor Honey Lacuna reported the visitor count from October 30 to November 3, attributing the high turnout to the long weekend and fair weather. The North Cemetery saw 1,618,530 visitors, with 1.1 million attending on November 1 alone, while the South Cemetery had 548,627 visitors, with 438,500 on the same day.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Lacuna also noted a decrease in the amount of trash collected from the cemeteries this year. “Ngayong taon, umabot lamang sa 104 truckloads ng basura ang nakolekta sa mga sementeryo. Mas mababa ito sa 107 truckloads na nakolekta noong nakaraang taon. Nakabuti rin sa garbage management na nirelocate natin ang mga pwesto ng vendors para mas maging maayos ang daloy ng mga tao papasok at palabas ng mga sementeryo,” she explained. This
translates to a reduction from 107 truckloads last year to 104 truckloads this year, aided by the strategic relocation of vendor areas for better crowd management.

The city government urged visitors to adopt the “Clean As You Go” (CLAYGO) policy, which will continue to be implemented in future events, including the holiday season and the Feast of the Black Nazarene in January 2025. Mayor Lacuna expressed a commitment to instilling cleanliness habits akin to those practiced in Japan, with the goal of making these practices second nature to the public.