QC, Montalban to set up Islamic burial ground

The Quezon City government and the municipal government of Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal will now be sharing a common burial ground for their departed Muslim residents.

A memorandum of agreement has been signed by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., and Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo for the establishment of the QC-Montalban Islamic Cemetery in Sitio Maislap, Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez.

A three-hectare land has been allocated for the project, funded by a P5-million grant donated by the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Muslim Filipinos of Quezon City. The grant was acquired through the initiative of Belmonte, in coordination with the QC Muslim Consultative Council.

"The QC government welcomes this project and we are very much willing to contribute our share to the development of the Montalban Islamic Cemetery," Belmonte said.

He said Muslim communities in the city should respect the laws being enforced by the municipal government of Rodriguez, urging them "to be good neighbors."

"This project is a step further in improving ties with the municipality of Rodriguez," the Belmonte said.

For his part, Cuerpo described the project as the beginning of fruitful and harmonious working ties with the city government.

The establishment of the Montalban Islamic Cemetery is a priority project of President Arroyo, in partnership with the Urban Asset Reform Project Management Office, United Nations Development Programme, Office of the Special Envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council, Department of Finance and the local governments of Quezon City and Rodriguez.

Ret. Army Col. Jameel Jaymalin, head of the QC Muslim Consultative Council, said there are 24 Muslim communities in Quezon City. Barangay Culiat in Tandang Sora is home to the city’s largest Muslim community.