Iloilo City gears up Tigkaralag; Cemetery visitors brave floods

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City Operations Center (OpCen) has been placed on blue alert for this year’s observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, locally known as Tigkaralag.

Under Executive Order / Memorandum Order No. 409 signed by Mayor Raisa Treñas, the blue alert took effect at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, and will remain in effect until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3.

Despite some areas being flooded following Saturday morning’s downpour, early cemetery-goers, along with hired cleaners and painters, braved the floodwaters to prepare gravesites at Tanza Public Cemetery.

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Many Ilonggos chose to pay their respects ahead of Nov. 1 and 2 to avoid the heavy crowds expected during the Tigkaralag observance.

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Treñas directed all emergency response clusters to maintain full readiness for immediate deployment if necessary.

Additionally, District and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMCs) were instructed to activate their respective Emergency Operations Centers and elevate their alert status to blue.

Barangay officials are required to continuously monitor Tigkaralag-related activities in their areas and promptly report any incidents to ensure quick coordination and response.

City officials emphasized that the implementation of the Blue Alert status is a proactive preparedness measure to guarantee public safety and security, particularly for residents visiting local cemeteries.

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The public is also reminded to observe basic household safety measures before leaving home, such as turning off electrical appliances, locking all doors and windows, and ensuring no lighted candles are left unattended.

For emergencies, the public may contact the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center at 0919-066-2333 or 0961-653-5111 (Viber).