The local government of Daanbantayan is giving a six-month ultimatum to three national government agencies to act promptly on private cemeteries operating within the municipality allegedly without proper permits and licenses.
Vice Mayor Maria Luisa Loot and other local officials put the blame on the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Health for reportedly tolerating the operation of these private cemeteries sans the required permits.
In a meeting called by municipal officials recently, Loot hit at representatives of the three government agencies saying that had the authority to issue permit for cemeteries been given to the local government unit, the problem could have already been addressed long time ago.
Loot said that when she was mayor, she had approved a municipal ordinance regulating the establishment of private cemeteries. However, the ordinance was not fully implemented in the past four years since its approval because of the alleged lack of cooperation from the HLURB, DENR and DOH.
Loot added it is “not good to see the municipality with cemeteries in every corner while it is being promoted as one of the major tourist destinations in Cebu province, particularly.”
During the said meeting, it was also agreed that a task force shall be created by the three agencies in coordination with the local government unit to come up with a solution to the problem.
Loot warned the three agencies that if they could not solve the problem in time, she will bring the matter up to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. — Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV