BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Police Office announced that at least 650 police personnel and force multipliers are set to be deployed to public and private cemeteries and other convergence sites in the city from 29 October to 2 November for the observance of Undas.

BCPO operations chief Col. Domingo Gambican said that the function of the augmented force is to assist in the maintenance of traffic and provide police assistance to ensure the safe and orderly observance of the All Saints' and All Souls' Day.

He added that the BCPO's Oplan Undas will utilize 317 police personnel that will be augmented by 349 force multipliers.

They will be assigned to cemeteries, tourist destinations, bus terminals, malls, and the public market, while medical personnel and emergency volunteers will also be positioned at the cemeteries during the long weekend.

Gambican said there would be no traffic rerouting to avoid additional congestion, especially with several ongoing road constructions.

However, police will be dispatched to help direct traffic, as well as implement the drop-and-go policy along access routes in the different private and public cemeteries.

Meanwhile, the city government has ordered the closure of cemeteries in the city on 1 November to ensure proper crowd management and avoid traffic, and provided a schedule of visits per district covering the 128 barangays.

Some private cemeteries are adopting the first letter of the family name of the deceased for the schedule of visits.

At the same time, the city government has allowed the use of Malcolm Square or the People's Park as a special area for selling candles, cut flowers, potted flowers, and other materials needed for floral arrangement, from 27 to 31 October.

Only 72 slots are allowed due to the limited space and the drop-off point for wholesale items designated at the old city library area.