The Mohon Linao Lawaan Homeowners represented by Buen Jose Delfin filed a petition before Mayor Socrates Fernandez and the City Council expressing opposition to the creation of Pope John Paul II Garden of Peace Memorial Park.
"The proposed cemetery, if realized may cause health hazards to the nearby residents who use deep wells and water pumps for their water needs," the petition said.
The group said the developer failed to meet the condition stated in the Code of Sanitation, which required that the construction of a cemetery should be at least 25 meters from the residential houses.
It said the construction of the cemetery also violates the city's Zoning Ordinance as it is located "not in the designated institutional zone" but in the residential area.
The residents also fear for the eventual contamination of their water supply.
"The time to flush out contaminants is directly related to the area of the cemetery, number of corpses buried effective rainfall and infiltration rate through the soil and grave," the petition explained.
According to the petition, there is no need for additional cemetery in the city since there is already one in the barangay and several others in the different parts of the city that are enough to cater to the entire population.
It also asked the city government not to grant permit to the project.
The barangay council has already denied the construction of the cemetery due to the complaints from the residents. - Liv G. Campo