By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
AS THE SPACE for new graves
dwindles, the Laoag City government has set plans to expand the public cemetery
at Brgy. 1.
City assessor Engr. Ruben
Domingo confirmed the expansion plan as he said Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas
has instructed him to look into the purchase of the lot beside the cemetery.
Domingo added that the
two-hectare cemetery is now already congested as he also disclosed that the
alleys are now being used as graves.
The assessor further related
that they already found 5,000 sq. m lot beside the cemetery but the owners have
migrated abroad and this is delaying the process to purchase the lot.
Should the lot be acquired,
Domingo said they plan to put up an “apartment-type” of tombs which would be
more orderly and would accommodate more.
He also mentioned that an
environment-compliance certificate would no longer be needed for the plan as
the lot is located just beside the cemetery. But to be sure, he said he would
contact the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for proper notice
and information,
Meanwhile, city treasurer Ma.
Elena Asuncion has long requested the expansion of the public cemetery but this
has not been pursued due to the unavailability of land.
With this development, she
expressed hopes that Domingo would be able to contact the owners of the
proposed lot as she added that a budget has already been allocated for this.
Ms. Fariñas, for her part,
ordered Domingo to fast track the negotiations for the acquisition of the lot.
The mayor said the project is
needed and funding for this has been incorporated in the 2014 annual budget.
Relative to this, Ms. Fariñas
also announced that the city government has granted the request for a Muslim
cemetery in the city. An additional request for a higher fence for the cemetery,
however is still being processed.
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