MANILA (UPDATED) — Authorities barred All Saints’ Day visitors from using one of the metal staircases outside the Manila South Cemetery on Friday due to safety concerns.

A metal staircase was installed that morning along Metropolitan Avenue and Kalayaan Avenue in Makati to serve as alternative entry points for those visiting their dearly departed during the expected influx of people.

But less than an hour after it was opened to the public, personnel manning the one along Metropolitan Avenue flagged the growing gap at the top part of the staircase and a broken step. One side of the stairs was also missing some railings.

This delayed the entry of several visitors, particuarly senior citizens, who were hoping to use the stairs so that they would not have to walk far going to the main gate.

“Ang sabi nung mga pulis nung nagtanong kami, ginagawa pa raw. Sabi ko late na. (November) 1 ngayon. Dapat (October) 30, 31 pa lang, ginawa na nila,” complained June Banag.

“Sabihin mo, tapusin na. Importanteng makaakyat sa sementeryo,” echoed another senior citizen, Manolita Bantay.

“Hindi po namin kontrolado ang pag-install ng hagdanan, Makati LGU (local government unit) po ang nag-iinstall doon. We’ll discuss that with Makati LGU kung ano klase ang gagawin nila sa future— mas malapad, mas safer siguro,” said Manila South Cemetery Director Henry Dy.

But in a statement sent to ABS-CBN News, the Makati City Government also denied installing the stairs, saying it was “a private sector initiative.”

The damaged staircase remains closed until further notice.

When asked if the Manila City Government, which operates the public cemetery, had any plans to put up another actual gate so that there wouldn’t be any need for makeshift stairs, Dy said “it’s not advisable” due to security reasons.

“Mas maraming entrance, mas marami pa tayong babantayan at mas marami pang pwedeng daanan ng mga kontrabando,” he explained.

Despite the accessibility issues, foot traffic at the Manila South Cemetery still reached more than 400,000 on All Saint’s Day alone.

More are expected to visit the cemetery on Saturday, November 2, as the nation observed All Souls’ Day.