Doña Pepang Cemetery now closed

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has officially closed Saturday the Doña Pepang Cemetery to give way to the development of the place.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor chief Collin Rosell said the city government had to close it to easily begin the project in the area.

“I-convert na into a park. Ug naa pay ilubong didto maigo unya sa development, luoy pud kaayo,” Rosell said yesterday.

Few weeks ago, DWUP posted a notice about the redevelopment and beautification project of the City of Cebu.

“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,” the notice states.

Rosell said they will also be having a meeting with the family members of the deceased interred in the cemetery on Thursday to settle the matter. Based on their notice, they targeted until the end of this month to clear the area from the remains of the deceased buried in the cemetery.

“Family member or re-latives of the deceased interred in the Doña Pe-pangCemetery are advice to have the remains of their departed loved ones be transferred before November 30, 2014,” stated on the notice.

 “Ang directive sa amo, kinahanglan naa nay compliance sa project on December,” he added.

According to Rosell, the city government is still on the process of finalizing the plan for the conversion of the ce-metery into a park. Though there is a plan made years ago, Rosell explained that they are conducting series of consultations and discussions to improve the project.

He emphasized that they are planning separate ways on how to deal with the family members of the deceased interred in the cemetery, re-sidents in front of the cemetery, and the settlers living inside the cemetery.

For those around 37 families residing inside the cemetery, they will be transferred on the lot beside the place while for those more than 60 families living in front will be relocated in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel.

The cemetery was previously owned by the Arch-diocese of Cebu. However, the property was swapped with a city-owned lot in Barangay Pasil.  (FREEMAN)