Group vows help to transform cemeteries into heritage sites

CEBU, Philippines —  An association has vowed to help the Cebu City government to transform two old cemeteries here–the Cebu-Chinese Cemetery and Doña Pepang into heritage sites.

Mayor Michael Rama disclosed that the prime movers of Asociacion Benevola de Cebu Inc. (ABCI) agreed to provide financial assistance not only to the Cebu Chinese Cemetery but also to Dona Pepang Cemetery.

“We met last October 30 and the group agreed to finance the project upon learning about my redevelopment plans in the waterfront area,” Rama said earlier.

Re-developing these areas will both provide significant historical and ethnic relevance in the city.

“These have old historical relevance that is why we need to redevelop them,” stressed Rama.

Clearing operations in Doña Pepang and the Chinese cemetery already started with Ramil Ayuman as the point person for Doña Pepang’s side and Jeffrey Ibones in the Chinese cemetery.

Another special assistant to the mayor, Atty. Jerone G. Castillo, on the other hand, will be heading the heritage project side.

Castillo accepted the new challenge while crediting the Mayor’s strong political will for being able to initiate such a project with ABCI, owner and operator of Chong Hua Hospital and Chong Hua Medical Center.

“Si Mayor ang nag-initiate sa redevelopment sa area maong we have to thank him for having a strong political will,” said Castillo.

Castillo also revealed that while the said cemeteries will be redeveloped, the mayor assured a resettlement site will also be provided to the cemetery dwellers.

“I talked with Benevola na. (I told them) since you have huge lots, maybe we can use them as sites for medium-rise buildings (MRBs) where the settlers can live in and, so far, we are on the right track with this,” Castillo said.

Aside from the two cemeteries though, Rama is also looking into including other old cemeteries as heritage sites while also looking at improving them to provide more comfort to the visitors of the cemeteries.

During the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, Rama personally checked cemeteries, especially the public ones, and noted some things that need to be done and improved while also emphasizing that the living should not be staying in places that are supposed to be for the dead. — GMR (FREEMAN)