2:54 AM
007
Being
one among the priority thrusts of his
administration for the year 2012-2013, Mayor Peter B. Miguel ordered the Task
Force for the establishment of the new Koronadal Public Cemetery, through its
lot selection committee, to fast track the selection of the site. Two
consecutive consultations on July 17 and 22 were conducted by the Committee with
the homeowners of Purok Sto.Niño, Barangay Paraiso to discuss issues and
concerns regarding the said project.
Due to the diminishing space for burying
in the old cemetery, the amount of PhP3M was appropriated for lot purchase of the
new cemetery as approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod. According to Mayor Miguel, he wanted the new
public cemetery to offer the frills
of a private graveyard yet low-income people could still afford it.
Mr.Benito
Quirao, the City General Services Officer-in-charge (CGSO) and head of the Task Force secretariat, said
that early last year, an invitation to sell was posted and broadcasted to
invite lot owners to offer their properties for sale to the city government provided
they conformed with the criteria set by the City and the HLURB. After narrowed
land search and assessments, members of the Lot Selection Committee indentified one probable
location, the 3.5-hectare lot at Purok Sto.Nino, and initially identified the same as physically
and operationally best-suited for the purpose.
According to Mr.Quirao, the proposed site passed the zoning classification of open space, not within SAFDZ, not tenanted, not covered by CARP, not prime agricultural land and not irrigated.
When asked about the final site selection and
when construction would begin,
Mr. Quirao explained that after the selection process, appraisal would follow
and subsequently, the lot purchase; site development plans come next.
As part of the City’s development plans and as revealed by Mayor Miguel, the old cemetery would be transformed into a Memorial Park like that of Tagum City Memorial Park and Koronadal Golden Valley.
Meanwhile, the CGSO is currently updating and
verifying the lease contracts of existing
burial lots and niches in the old cemetery and is also enjoining the public to
have their lease contracts renewed and payments updated to avoid penalties.
By: Caroline Mariano
