A NEW design will be made for the city’s plan to convert the Roman Catholic cemetery, more known as Dona Pepang cemetery, into a heritage park.
This was assured yesterday by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who asked architect Socorro Atega to integrate some private mausoleums in the new design.
“I was very clear with Atega. Design is good, but we need practicability. When you think about the existing structures being present, we have to be practical. The issue now is how to integrate the essence of practicability, reasonableness and fairness,” Rama told a news conference.
The mayor conceded to the request of several families with dead relatives in the cemetery to retain their private mausoleums – concrete structures with grills – in the almost one-hectare site.
During Sunday’s public consultation representatives of 30 of 35 affected families expressed support for the city’s plan to develop a park, but their agreement came with some conditions.
Meetings
They wanted to be consulted on the final design, and to have expenses of any transfer to be shouldered by the city. They wanted roads into the site improved. Others wanted to retain their family graves.
Mayor Rama, who led the forum, agreed to several requests but could not guarantee retaining all the tombs.
He said it would “depend” on factors still under discussion.
“That’s where we are now. There will be more meetings,” the mayor said.
The plan for a park has a proposed P10 million budget but whether it is carried in the city’s 2015 annual budget still depends on approval of the City Council.
Prominence
Based on Atega’s original proposed design in 2008, only the prominent Osmeña Mausoleum would be retained because of its historic value.
The entry to the cemetery would be cleared, instead of covered by shacks.
A mini amphitheater, landscaping and tiered columbary for bones and ashes would be added.
Rama said the project would be renamed Cebu Heritage Park instead of a “memorial park” to emphasize its historic value since the cemetery existed even before Cebu was classified from a municipality into a city.
“Overall, all of them are in agreement that there shall be rehabilitation, re-enhancement, revitalization and historical prominence,” he said.
Based on City Hall records, 221 individuals from 35 different families are buried there.
The Osmeña clan didn’t attend Sunday’s consultation with affected families.
Former mayor Tomas Osmeña, who went to court to try to stop the closure of the cemetery or transfer of graves, was foiled when a judge refused to issue a temporary restraining order.
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