• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government appealed to families of individuals buried at the Burgos public cemetery to coordinate in the relocation of 454 remains from damaged tombs along Lopez Jaena Street to the Handumanan cemetery bone vault.
A consultative meeting with around 120 relatives of the deceased will be held tomorrow, July 7, at the Government Center lobby.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the City Engineer’s Office prepared a rehabilitation plan months ago for a perimeter wall that partially collapsed during a typhoon last year.
He said the city cannot initiate repairs because the exposed tombs are structurally attached to the leaning perimeter wall, and any movement could cause the remaining structures to collapse.
“The sooner this is done, the better the situation will be regarding the wall along Lopez Jaena because the current situation is really not good,” Gasataya said.
The city said the transfer is necessary to ensure public safety and mitigate health risks for motorists and pedestrians along Lopez Jaena Street.
Once the remains are relocated, the city plans to construct a new perimeter wall, establish a designated loading and unloading area, clear sidewalks, and introduce green spaces.
The timeline for the reconstruction depends on how quickly the affected families coordinate with the city government. | TMD
