La Funeraria Paz opens La Loma memorial chapels

MANILA, Philippines - La Funeraria Paz, Inc. (LFPI) continues its expansion with the inauguration of its 4th mortuary in the country’s oldest and most historic cemetery in La Loma, Caloocan City.

Through a lease agreement with La Loma Parks., Inc. developer of a 2.1 hectare area within the La Loma Catholic Cemetery along C-3 Road, Caloocan City, owned by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kalookan (RCBK), La Funeraria Paz, Inc. will exclusively operate the 28 furnished viewing chapels under the name “La Funeraria Paz-La Loma.” The mortuary will provide necessary funds, management and expertise for funeral and related services.

La Funeraria Paz, Inc. has been in the mortuary business for over 100 years and presently operates its main mortuary in Araneta Avenue with extensions in Sucat, Parañaque and Baguio City.

LFPI president Jose Alberto T. Alba said the mortuary tie-up with La Loma Parks, Inc. is “in line with our thrust in integrating our memorialization business which includes life plans, memorial parks, mortuaries and crematory services. We are also looking forward to marketing columbarium vaults through an agreement between Prudentialife Market Resources, Inc. and La Loma Columbary, Inc.”

La Loma Columbary, La Loma Parks and JGS, Inc. are the developers of the La Loma Catholic Cemetery re-development project. It is the brainchild of Caloocan bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., to address the vanishing availability of land for cemeteries, the need to reduce the cost of interment with an eco-friendly cemetery environment. The project envisions the re-development of a 10-hectare parcel of land in the Kalookan site where a master-planned La Loma Columbary Complex will rise. The main feature of the complex are four building clusters with a total area of around 45,100 sq.m., and will offer columbarium vaults ranging from standard to crypt and niche type vaults, mausoleums and ossuaries to cater to different market needs. La Funeraria Paz-La Loma is housed in the first building and will be in full operation in July 2009. Construction of the other buildings and facilities is in full swing.

La Loma Parks has incorporated a commercial support service area composed of a crematorium, multi-purpose amphi-theater, flower shop, food kiosks and the like. The project proponents partnered with La Funeraria Paz, because of its “tradition of excellence and quality in memorial servicing that will benefit not only the residents of Caloocan but also nearby towns and cities.”

The government through Mayor Echeverri of Caloocan City, together with HLURB, LLDA/DENR, DOH and other national government agencies have been very supportive of the project.