Rama wants closure notice reviewed

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants to review the notice issued by the city government for the dwellers in Doña Pepang Cemetery in Barangay Tejero to vacate the place before the burial site’s closure on November 15.

Rama said he needs to sit down with the affected families and the officials of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor to discuss the impending closure of the cemetery.

 “I-meeting man gyod na because they (people) have to be part and we need to agree man pod,” Rama said.

The mayor, however, is determined to close the cemetery to give way to a park that the city government wants to build in the area.

“Akong instruction pod sa DWUP is to bring back the opening of the road going to Doña Pepang which kanang area diha is part of the property because originally, that road is dako kaayo na,” Rama said, adding that traffic congestion is usually felt in the area because of the lack of sidewalk.

The city government has already issued a notice informing the public who has family members buried in the said cemetery to transfer the remains to other burial ground before November 30.

Rama said a Deed of Exchange between the Archbishop of Cebu and the city government was signed on January 10, 2011. On October 6, 2011, both parties entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for the exchange of properties; city government acquired the Doña Pepang Cemetery while the Archdiocese of Cebu got the 729-square-meter property in Barangay Pasil.

“The city plans to develop the area in order to preserve the place and uphold its historical importance,” the MOA read.

Rama said that Doña Pepang Cemetery will be converted into a public park soon. He assured the city government will not touch the Osmeña mausoleum.

“The mausoleum nga naa, kaning mga paryente diha nga nindot pa og porma, that is heritage, then they will stay,” he said, adding that it could be best if the families who could afford to transfer the remains of their departed loved ones will do the initiative.

He said that the remains of her grandmother who was buried in the area will be transferred to the Cebu Memorial Park.

Residents and families who have loved ones resting in Doña Pepang Cemetery disagree on the plan of converting it to a park. Few days ago, DWUP posted a notice informing the residents and the families who have deceased loved ones in the cemetery about the redevelopment and beautification project of the city.

 “Please be informed that Doña Pepang Cemetery will be closed to the public starting November 15, 2014 Saturday to give way for the Redevelopment and Beautification Project of the City of Cebu,” stated on the notice.

 “Family member or relatives of the deceased interred in the Doña Pepang Cemetery are advice to have the remains of their departed loved ones be transferred before November 30, 2014,” it added.

A person who owns a burial chamber in the cemetery said he disagrees with the plan because it will be too expensive for them to transfer the remains. The person, who requested anonymity, said the chamber they built is also expensive because some parts of the structure were made of marbles from foreign countries.

 According to him, if the city government wants to pursue the project everything should be demolished including the Osmeña mausoleum.

Rudy Sapio, a resident of the area, also opposed the plan saying that their departed loved ones are already in the proper place.

“Nganong hilabtan pa man? Maayo naman ang pagkabutang sa mga patay ug sa mga nagpuyo diri. Dili na lang unta hilabtan,” he said

 Another resident, Laarni Villanueva, said they take good care of the place.

“Dugay naman mi diri nagpuyo. Wala man sad mi maghugaw-hugaw diri,” she said.

 Rosita Lumbre, who has been living beside the burial chamber for around 60 years, said she does not oppose the plan provided that the city government provides them a convenient relocation site.

“Kon ibalhin mi ang kana lang unta nga yuta sa kilid para dili layo. Mao man sad na ang saad ni mayor namo. Naa mi kilid sa pantyon pero nisugot man sad ang mga tagtungod nga naa mi nagpuyo diri kay malimpyohan man namo,” she said. (FREEMAN)