Commemorative events for the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) have been cancelled while activities for Veterans Week have been postponed due to the ongoing Luzon lockdown, which was implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) said Monday.

In an advisory, the PVAO said the cancellation and postponement of the events aim to ensure the safety of the veterans from COVID-19, which was found to be deadly for the elderly, immunocompromised, and those with underlying condition.

"The commemoration of the 78th Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9, 2020 and all scheduled Veterans Week activities from April 3-7, 2020 will not push through," the PVAO said.

"Post-Veterans Week activities will be moved on a later date once the quarantine period is lifted," it added.

Despite the cancellation of the event, the PVAO urged the public to observe Araw ng Kagitingan, a national holiday to mark the sacrifices and heroism of Filipinos and Americans who resisted the Japanese occupation.

Government officials are assessing whether or not to extend the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon after April 12.

The country has recorded 3,246 coronavirus infections, as of Sunday, of which, 152 resulted in deaths while 64 recuperated.