Private cemetery cited for several violations

CEBU, Philippines – The Mandaue City Planning and Development Office has found that the construction of a mausoleum in a private cemetery in Barangay Guizo violated the Sanitation Code of the Philippines and the National Building Code.

In a letter report by the City Planning and Development Office - Zoning Unit, it was found out that Grosmar Memorial Garden Inc. located at corner F. Cabahug Street and B. Cabahug Street, Barangay Guizo has an ongoing construction of a new mausoleum in the area allotted as parking space for their existing mausoleum.

Zoning Unit Inspectors Reno Bate and Angelene Herrero, in their ocular inspection, found that Grosmar constructed a six-level niche structure along F. Cabahug Street.

The Grosmar Memorial Garden also violated Section 90-B of the Code of Sanitation of the Philippines which states that a burial ground shall be at least 25 meters away from any dwelling house and no house shall be constructed within the specified distance from any burial ground.

Bate and Herrero said the company also violated the design standards and guidelines for memorial parks and cemeteries.

Since their parking slot is being converted into a mausoleum, the company also violated Rule III-Section 9 of the National Building Code which states that the parking area should be equivalent to a minimum of five percent of the gross area of a memorial park/cemetery shall be provided for over and above the required parking area/facility.

Manuel Flores, the President and General Manager of Grosmar Memorial Garden, has denied that the company violated the provisions of the law.

Flores said the design of new mausoleum conforms to the standards and strictly follows environmental laws. —/JBB (FREEMAN)