[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’‘HORRORS’ AT NORTH CEMETERY
Sanitary check might lead to graveyard closure ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BACOLOD City – The North Public Cemetery has its fair share of “horrors.”
The City Health Office conducted an inspection at the cemetery following complaints received by the General Services Office (GSO), including that of caretaker Ricardo Repogio.
Medical Officer IV Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environmental Sanitation Division, furnished a report addressed to CHO head Ma. Carmela Gensoli after the inspection she led on Nov. 2.
The inspection, according to Tan, was “part of the routine assessment and to validate reports” from Repogio and other complainants.
Tan’s report enumerated the findings of the inspection, to wit:
*Overpopulated cemetery community. Tombs and niches are in a topsy-turvy arrangement obstructing passageways. Buried bodies already unaccounted. More than 10 cadavers are still interred per week. Most transactions are unknown to the caretaker.
*Some niches are open, claimed by people around as exhumed and transferred out but some seemed to be forcibly exposed.
*Complaints of lost/ replaced niches/tombs and bones of dead loved ones were submitted by grieving family members. Tombstones replaced with another name without prior notice and permission. Mausoleum seems to have extended its border, demolishing an existing 5-story condominium.
*Around 28 “contractors” were identified by caretaker, some have not signified identity and still transact/attend to clients.
*Uncollected and unsegregated garbage piled and scattered along pathways and sides of niches. Noted were containers previously used for painting niches, soft drink bottles, ribbons, plastic wrappers, unused garments, etc.
*Plants and big trees growing through and destroying niches.
*Around 5-6 households still live inside the city cemetery.
*No public toilet and water source within.
*Vendors inside selling cigarettes.
*Nearest dwelling is less than 25 meters (back portion)
Tan said the cemetery do no longer meet the 25-meter and 50-meter distance limit from a dwelling house and source of water supply, respectively, according to Presidential Decree No. 856, or the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines.
Tan also said the cemetery has already been “utilized in full” that it can no longer cater to more interments.
Based on the findings, Tan suggested that the cemetery be closed and rehabilitation be done.
Gensoli has yet to act on the report as of this writing.
Meanwhile, the GSO was still investigating the missing tombs at the cemetery./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
