BACOLOD City — The Bacolod City Government is set to begin transferring remains from older burial niches at Handumanan Public Cemetery to newly established bone vaults as part of efforts to address overcrowding and create additional burial space.
City officials acknowledged that the cemetery has reached a critical stage in terms of capacity, prompting the local government to implement long-term measures to maximize available space and improve accessibility within the public cemetery.
“We are aware that Handumanan Public Cemetery is already overcrowded and that available burial space has become very limited,” City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo said.
As an immediate measure, the city plans to exhume and transfer the remains of individuals interred for more than five to 10 years to designated bone vaults.
However, Mayo emphasized that the process will not be carried out hastily and will strictly comply with legal and administrative requirements.
He explained that authorities must first identify the deceased and locate their relatives before any transfer can take place.
“There is a process that must be followed. Families must first be informed before any transfer of remains can be conducted,” Mayo said.
In cases where relatives cannot be located, the city will publish notices in newspapers of general circulation to ensure that families are properly informed and given an opportunity to respond.
The identification process is expected to be challenging, as many of the older niches have deteriorated over time, leaving names and markers no longer visible.
“Some of the tombs can no longer be clearly identified. We first have to determine who is buried there and then locate their families before proceeding with the transfer,” Mayo explained.
The initiative aims not only to free up additional burial spaces for future interments but also to improve the overall layout and accessibility of the cemetery.
According to the city government, portions of the areas currently occupied by old niches will eventually be converted into road networks and access pathways to improve traffic flow and mobility within the cemetery grounds.
At present, visitors and funeral processions face difficulties navigating certain sections of the cemetery because of limited passageways.
The city government, through the General Services Office (GSO) and the City Engineer’s Office, has begun notifying the public about burial niches that have exceeded the 10-year occupancy period.
Authorities are encouraging residents who recognize any of the affected niches to inform the families concerned so proper coordination can be made before the remains are transferred to bone vaults.
Meanwhile, Mayo said Mayor Greg Gasataya is also pursuing the acquisition of an adjacent one-hectare private property that could serve as an expansion area for Handumanan Public Cemetery.
City officials said the combined initiatives of transferring remains to bone vaults and acquiring additional land are intended to address the growing demand for burial spaces while improving cemetery infrastructure for the benefit of the public./PN
