QC turns over development fund for Islamic cemetery

The Quezon City government officially turned over to the municipality of Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal the first tranche of the P5 million fund granted by the Kingdom of Bahrain for the development of the QC Islamic Cemetery Project at Sitio Maislap, Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. personally handed to Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuero the P1.2-million check that will be used for site development and construction of roadways leading to the three-hectare cemetery during a simple ceremony at the Bulwagang Amoranto last week.

Both local executives described the project as vital in addressing the needs of Muslim communities in their respective areas.

The fund transfer was an offshoot of a memorandum of agreement signed by the two local executives in May this year for the establishment of a common burial ground for the departed Muslim constituents of Quezon City and Rodriguez.

Under the agreement, the municipal government of Rodriguez shall share half of the three-hectare QC Islamic Cemetery, while the Quezon City government will transfer and manage the P5-million allocation for the development and improvement of the cemetery, including the development of road networks, construction of perimeter fence and other site development.

Apart from the P5 million for the development of the cemetery, Belmonte also requested for a P1 million appropriation in the city’s 2007 budget for the operation and maintenance of city’s portion in the cemetery.

He has also ordered the formation of a project monitoring group that shall oversee the implementation of the project. The members include QC Muslim Consultative Council executive director Col. Jameel Jaymalin, city accountant Editha Alzona and acting city engineer Joselito Cabungcal.

The establishment of the QC Islamic Cemetery is a priority project of President Arroyo, in partnership with the Urban Asset Reform Project Management Office (UARPMO), United Nations Development Program, Office of the Special Envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council, Department of Finance and the local governments of Quezon City and Rodriguez, Rizal.

A multi-purpose hall provided with a prayer room and preparation area has been constructed at the site by the municipality of Rodriguez, with fund assistance from Rep. Joel Virador of Bayan Muna.

To date, there are about 24 Muslim communities in Quezon City. Barangay Culiat in Tandang Sora is home to the largest Muslim community in the city.