Abalos to unveil columbarium

MANILA, Philippines - Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. will unveil tomorrow a first of its kind state-of-the-art cemetery, columbarium, crematorium and chapel (4C) in the city’s Garden of Life Park in Barangay Vergara.

“Our concept here is likened to a “one-stop-shop,” where we provide a decent resting place for our departed loved ones while unburdening the living of financial woes of burial services. We are committed to serve our people, from the time of their birth until their death,” said Abalos.

A pioneering initiative of the local government of Mandaluyong City and designed to be a model project for all local government units in the country, the 4C approach aims to address various concerns such as urban planning and delivery of basic services. Because of the limited space in the city’s cemeteries, Abalos is hoping that the 4C project would solve the congestion problem in the coming years.

“Since we have limited spaces in the public cemetery, we want to put everything in place as early as now as we foresee this emerging congestion problem in the next 10 years,” said Abalos.

The re-development of the cemetery in Barangay Vergara was based on a city council’s resolution adopted in January and an Ordinance No.439, S-2009, prescribing the fees, charges, policies, implementing rules and regulations for services rendered by the city cemetery relative to the disposal of the dead in the city.

Capacity

The capacity of the 2.57-hectare cemetery includes 5, 744 apartment niches, 1,720 bone crypts, 253 private apartments, 2,900 (Columbarium 1) and 1,025 (Columbarium 2). The services offered are categorized into three such as Category A (regular rates for residents/ non residents), Category B (special rates for long time residents) and Category C (indigent/ underprivileged residents).

Fees range from P400 for burial, niches between P3,500 to P5,000, cremation for as low as P4,000 bones and P 8,000 fresh burial, and the columbarium which is for residents only at P1,250 yearly fee or as much as P25,000 for 25 years or P1,000 annually.

Additionally, Abalos also announced that the city will implement the usual “Oplan Kaluluwa” campaign to ensure public order and safety in commemoration of All Saints’ Day. Traffic advisory will also be issued to ensure smooth flow of vehicles.