Benevola okays conversion of Chinese cemetery into park

CEBU, Philippines —  The Doña Pepang cemetery’s ground-breaking ceremony into a heritage park paved the way for the Asociacion Benevola de Cebu Inc. (ABCI) to proceed with the conversion of the old Chinese cemetery in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City as a heritage park.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama told reporters yesterday morning right after Doña Pepang’s ground-breaking that he received a text message telling him of the latest development.

Benevola had tentatively set July 12 as its ground-breaking ceremony.

Rama said the city government together with Benevola already has a plan for it including for the informal settlers in the area.

Like Doña Pepang, the old Chinese cemetery became a home to informal settlers and worse, a hide-away to those involved in illegal activities and vices that converting both cemeteries into a heritage park is a very welcome development to many.

Even some of the residents that will be affected by the clearing of the city government of Doña Pepang said they understand Rama’s intention to preserve the place while also clearing the area for peace and order and for tourism development.

Project overseer, Ramil Ayuman, yesterday said the Doña Pepang cemetery is actually the first Roman Catholic cemetery here that will now soon become the first public heritage park.

“This is the start of the transformation from a cemetery to a magnificent heritage park. Kini kabahin sa tinguha ni Mayor Mike alang sa mas halapad nga kabilin sa kagikan program,” Ayuman said during the ceremony.

Ayuman said no less than former mayor Tomas Osmeña wrote a letter to the late Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal on his intention to make the 9,282-square meter cemetery into a park in 2008.

Osmeña, in a separate interview with The Freeman earlier, however, denied such intention as he maintains he is opposed to the project.

In 2011, the City Council passed a resolution authorizing Rama, who was first elected mayor in May 2010, to sign the deed of exchange for the property and agreed to swap property in Barangay Pasil for the cemetery owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu.

In 2014, Rama and the City Legal Office won the legal battle in favor of the conversion of Doña Pepang cemetery into a public park but it was only materialized today after some changes of leadership at the City Hall.  — GMR (FREEMAN)