Rama: Tomas Has No Reason to Oppose Conversion of Cemetery into Public Park

Mayor Michael Rama yesterday clarified that former Cebu City lawmaker Tomas R. Osmeña has no reason to oppose the conversion of Doña Pepang Cemetery into a public park because it was him who hatched the plan while he was still the mayor seven years ago.

Rama yesterday presented a copy of Osmeña’s letter dated July 16, 2008, which was sent to former Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal asking the latter to donate the cemetery lot along M.J. Cuenco Avenue to the city to be converted as park and a tourist spot.

Osmeña’s one page letter to Cardinal Vidal said “This refers to our intention to put up a beautiful park along M.J. Cuenco Avenue this city… We envision to make this park a tourist spot. However, in order that the budget allocation for the development of this park will not be questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA), it is imperative that the land must be owned by the City of Cebu.”

As a result of the series of discussions by the city and Church officials, it was later agreed by both parties that the close to one hectare cemetery lot beside M.J. Cuenco Avenue which was owned by the Archdiocese of Cebu be swapped to a city-owned lot in Barangay Pasil.

The land swapping was only formalized in 2011 and the cemetery lot where the Osmeña Mausoleum is situated is already part of the city properties. But Mayor Rama clarified that he has no plan to destroy the historic mausoleum that was built by then President Sergio Osmeña Sr.

Rama said there is already a site development plan on the project made years ago and it should be implemented soon by his administration.

Osmeña said he could no longer remember signing a letter requesting Cardinal Vidal for the donation of the lot because it will be converted as park.

According to Osmeña his plan, while he was still mayor, was to improve the condition of the abandoned cemetery to make it as tourist spot, but he will not demolish the tombs.

“Ang akong tuyo is to have the road going to the cemetery (from M.J. Cuenco Avenue) donated to the city so that City Hall can fix the road using public funds without violating the law,” he explained.

The road from M.J. Cuenco Avenue going to Doña Pepang Cemetery is very narrow that two vehicles cannot pass through at one time because of the illegal settlers who constructed their houses along the road.

The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) had posted a notice informing the families who have deceased loved ones in the cemetery. It said that the cemetery would be closed to the public starting November 15 to give way for the redevelopment and beautification project of the city.

“Family member or relatives of the deceased interred in the Doña Pepang Cemetery are advice to have the remains of their departed loved ones be transferred before November 30,2014,” it said.

The mayor said he will meet first with the affected people especially the families who have relative buried there before implementing the project.

Over a hundred of houses and stores that are constructed right at the entrance and within the premises of Doña Pepang Cemetery in Barangay Tejero will soon be cleared to pave way for the conversion of the cemetery lot into a public park.

Tejero Acting Barangay Captain Garry Lao said two personnel of the DWUP attended the session of the Barangay Council yesterday to shed light about the plan. Lao said the officials of Barangay Tejero will not oppose to the plan to convert the cemetery lot into a park, but there should be a prior consultation with the affected families before it will be implemented.

He added that the city should also provide relocation sites for those who will be displaced.