Floodwaters hamper Undas preparations at South Cotabato cemetery

BANGA, South Cotabato — Families preparing for Undas celebrations face unexpected obstacles as floodwaters continue to inundate the Banga Public Cemetery following an extended period of rain in the province.

Multiple burial sites at the public cemetery remain submerged, preventing relatives from carrying out traditional grave cleaning and maintenance ahead of the November observance. The prolonged wet weather has compounded access issues, with significant portions of the cemetery turning into muddy terrain that proves hazardous for visitors attempting to navigate the grounds.

The flooding has created a significant challenge for local residents who typically use the days leading up to Undas to prepare their family graves. The combination of standing water and soft ground conditions has made it difficult for cemetery visitors to safely reach burial sites and perform customary cleaning activities.

Cemetery officials and affected families have not yet announced alternative arrangements or timelines for when conditions might improve sufficiently to allow normal access and maintenance operations to resume at the burial grounds.

Photo: The Banga Municipal Hall seen from the town plaza, Banga, South Cotabato, December 2019. Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).