New cemetery eyed
A NEW cemetery is eyed in Irisan.
COUNCILOR Edgar Avila is proposing to declare the 129,414 square meters of a government owned lot at Irisan barangay as the new public cemetery to declog the crowded cemetery located along Naguillan Road.
“The present Baguio City Cemetery is overloaded, hence a need to supplement the same,” Avila said.
In the proposed ordinance, Avila has provided guidelines for its use, operation and maintenance, including the collection of fees and charges and imposition of penalties if approved.
Avila said the Office of the City Engineer and City Planning Officer will subdivide the 12.9 hectare lot, including the road opening to and from the new public cemetery and the construction and maintainance of a mortuary and chapel for public use.
Under Avila’s proposed measure, the cemetery lot will be divided into three areas: apartment type– located at the borders, serving as perimeter fence of the new cemetery and will consist of five levels/decks; individual lot – the measurement will not exceed but not less than 2.25 x 1.25 meters; and family estate lot – the measurement should not exceed, but not less than 5x3 meters for four pantheons.
The apartment type will have a lot lease fee of P3,000 and after five years, the lot lease contract will be renewed with a fee of P500 while the individual lot will have a lease fee of P5,000 with a renewal fee of P1,000 after five years.
The family estate will have a fee of P20,000 (cash) and P25,000 (installment) with a down payment of P5,000.
All fees will be paid at the City Treasurer’s office.
Construction of structures not following the measurement, use and utilization will be declared illegal.
To assure uniformity, the city will then accredit qualified masons and carpenters who will be the only ones allowed to construct structures.
A caretaker will be assigned to monitor the construction of tombs and pantheons making sure to report immediately to the City Engineer any deviations on the specifications and designs as provided for under this Ordinance.
The caretaker will also maintain cleanliness and orderliness inside the public cemetery and refer all inquiries to the Office of the City Treasurer.
The ordinance has passed its first reading during Monday’s regular session.