Columbary eyed in Doña Pepang

CEBU, Philippines - Once 40 illegal structures at the Doña Pepang Cemetery along M.J. Cuenco Avenue are already demolished within the week, the Cebu City government would construct a columbary in the cleared area.

Architect Socorro Atega, who is assigned to map out the architectural plan in converting the cemetery into a heritage park, said that according to the initial development plan, the city would transfer all the remains in the cemetery into the columbary.

This means that small mausoleums, excluding the Osmeña Mausoleum, will be removed.

.“The cemetery really needs this development because of problems like sanitation and security. I will still meet the families who have loved ones buried at the cemetery for the finalization of the design of the park,” Atega said.

The city government plans to convert the 9,282-square meter cemetery, situated along M.J. Cuenco Avenue, into a heritage park.

The cemetery was previously owned by the Archdiocese of Cebu but the lot was swapped with a city-owned lot in Barangay Pasil. The city government entered into an agreement with the Archdiocese of Cebu to convert the cemetery into a park.

 Atega, though, said that the design might be altered after the meeting with the families.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor Chief Collin Rosell said there are already half of over 150 remains at the cemetery that were already transferred by the respective families to other cemeteries due to sanitary, security, and orderliness concerns.

Rosell said the first step of the implementation of the project is the clearing of the  occupants in front of the cemetery.

He admitted that the difficult part is always the relocation site. He, however, said the 40 families will be accommodated in the socialized housing program of the city in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel.

On the report that the barangay will not accommodate the affected families, Rosell said Lorega-San Miguel cannot stop the city from doing it.

“Barangay Lorega is one of the sites for the socialized housing program of the city. The relocation of the affected families does not need a barangay resolution. Kon ang ilang reason is to accommodate sa families nga affected sa sunog sa ilang lugar, dili gihapon kay na-screen na nato tanang affected families ato and nahatagan na og allocation ang qualified,” he said. – (FREEMAN)