Squatters invade cemetery; search on for new grave site

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – Informal settlers or squatters have appropriated portions of the Baguio public cemetery for residential purposes, reducing the burying area for the city’s dead, the mayor said. Some of the informal settlers were tomb cleaners and painters, but later stayed, it was learned. Just after the annual trek to the cemeteries, Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week said there was need for a new cemetery even if it is located outside of Baguio.

The matter was brought up during the department heads’ meeting after the flag ceremony Monday morning.

           

There were offers by the informal settlers to buy the spaces being occupied, the payment could be used to buy cemetery space, the mayor added. If no space could be found within the city, a cemetery space may be acquired in the neighboring towns of Benguet, he said.

The mayor expressed hope that city-dwellers would consider cremation in lieu of burying their dead, due to current lack of cemetery space.

The practice however should be in accordance to the culture of the deceased, and as to the wishes of the family.    

Lack of zoning and steep slopes also contributed to problems of congestion, resulting to “lost” tombs during All Souls and All Saints’ days.    

Earlier, the city acquired a one-hectare property beside the existing cemetery, but this was inaccessible, as there is no allotment for a road leading to it.

There were two administrative orders earlier issued by the mayor as to the matter, guidelines on operation and services; and rehabilitation and expansion, issued by the mayor. There is also a directive that there should be no new structures built without permission from the City Environment Parks Management Office (CEPMO) which manages the cemetery.

No new construction nor improvement of existing mausoleums should be done, thus no stockpiling of materials should be allowed inside the cemetery, it was stated. Cemetery roads and alleys should also be maintained, thus, no overcrowding.

There have been visits to cemeteries in Mandaluyong and Urdaneta, Pangasinan, which were re-zoned and refurbished into memorial parks which may be used as model for rehabilitating the city’s cemetery.