Plan for Pepang’s conversion still being finalized

CEBU, Philippines - The timeframe to clear the Doña Pepang Cemetery to pave way for a park may be extended until the end of the year.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) chief Collin Rosell said the plan for the park is yet being finalized and DWUP itself is yet to meet with family members of those buried at the cemetery. He said DWUP may call for a meeting this week or next week.

“We will be announcing kanus-a gyud ang meeting. Oo, magbutang mi og notice (at the cemetery). Magpada mi through the caretakers. I hope nga maka-attend sila,” he said.

  “Ang directive sa amo, kinahanglan naa nay compliance sa project in December,” he said.

 The proposal to convert the cemetery into a park was hatched years ago but Rosell explained consultations and discussions on how best to improve an existing plan are still being conducted.

A few weeks ago, DWUP posted a notice informing the residents and the families who have deceased loved ones in the cemetery about the redevelopment and beautification project.

 “Please be informed that Doña Pepang Cemetery will be closed to the public starting November 15, 2014 Saturday to give way for the Redevelopment and Beautification Project of the City of Cebu,” the notice reads.

 “Family member or relatives of the deceased interred in the Doña Pepang Cemetery are advised to have the remains of their departed loved ones be transferred before November 30,2014,” it reads further.

Rosell reiterated that the city government is but implementing a project that was hatched during the time of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

The lot where the cemetery is located used to be owned by the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Through a Memorandum of Agreement and a resolution passed in January 2011 attested by former vice mayor Joy Augustus Young, the city government swapped its properties in Barangay Pasil (Block 3-f Lots 1 and 2) with the cemetery lot in M.J. Cuenco Avenue.

 Last week, Mayor Michael Rama showed the media Osmeña’s letter to former Archbishop of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. The letter dated July 16, 2008 asked for the lot. 

 “This refers to our intention to put up a beautiful park along M.J. Cuenco Avenue this city… We envision to make this park a tourist spot. However, in order that the budget allocation for the development of this park will not be questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA), it is imperative that the land must be owned by the City of Cebu,” Osmeña’s letter reads.

“In behalf therefore, of the City of Cebu, may I respectfully request the donation of the above-mentioned piece of land to the City of Cebu,” the letter reads further.

In a recent interview, however, Osmeña said what he remembers is the plan to improve the situation of the abandoned cemetery.

“Ang akong tuyo is to have the road going to the cemetery (from M.J. Cuenco Avenue) donated to the city so that City Hall can fix the road using public funds without violating the law,” he said.  (FREEMAN)