LAWMAKERS looked over the operations of public cemeteries during the second reading of the General Fund Annual Budget and Plantilla of the City Government for 2025 on Tuesday.
Of the P160 million total appropriations for economic enterprises, a total of P9,160,654.00 was allocated for the operation of cemeteries.
Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre asked the proponent about the proceeds of the budget and whether there were discussions on the expansion of cemeteries brought up during the committee hearings.
“Why I asked this because a lot of my constituents in the second district requested for burial transportation, and I observed when I received a request, most of it was in Panabo City, ”
He questioned the capacity of the nearby cemeteries that his constituents chose to lay their family members to rest in Panabo when there is an existing cemetery in Tibungco and Bunawan.
Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, proponent, said during the committee hearings with the economic enterprises, expansion of cemeteries was considered since cemeteries in the city are “packed.”
“During the Supplemental Budget 2 deliberation, they still have a surplus of around P2 million. At any given time kung may ma-procure o makita na silang location, we can use the unappropriated balance under the economic enterprises,” Ortiz said.
Maximo Macalipes Jr, City Economic Enterprise manager, said the office is looking at Lubogan, Calinan, and Maa for the rehabilitation which fund is coming from the Surplus.
Regarding the available cemeteries in the 2nd district, he said the Panacan Cemetery has stopped accepting internment due to the flooding problem, however, Tibungco and Bunawan cemeteries can still cater internment.
“Currently, the economic enterprise is looking at the standards we have set with the Wireless and Tagakpan cemetery, the compartmentalized niches, to be the basis for rehabilitations of other cemeteries,” Macalipes said.
Councilor Conrado Baluran also expressed alarm over the situation in cemeteries in the third district specifically Lubogan, Mintal, and Calinan as he received reports from the Lubogan barangay chair, the cemetery is being used as a “hideout of drug people and hold-uppers.”
“I think it is high time now to rehabilitate our cemeteries,” Baluran added.
Macalipes also responded that the rehab of Lubogan is already in the pipeline, eyeing an additional 2,655 compartmentalized niches.
Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Jr. questioned the continued flooding problem of the Panacan cemetery which has been going on for more than a decade, yet there is no rehabilitation project.
“Could we still continue having this kind of problem in Panacan cemetery? Can you not insist maybe the City Mayor’s Office on how to go with it at least to solve the flooding,” Ibuyan said.
Macalipes, in response, said, the CEE has noted the problem and that they have coordinated with other departments such as the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) and the CDRRMO to address the issue.
“We asked the Cemetery Board that the Panacan will not accept internment because we are still in the process of establishing whether to continue the operations or not or find solutions to address it,” Macalipes stressed.
Jesus Joseph Zozobrado also reechoed the sentiment of Ibuyan on the long overdue flooding problem of Panacan cemetery.
“How long will this coordination be finally put to its conclusive action pertaining to the determination of what causes the flood and how will it be resolved?” Zozobrado said and required a representative from the CEO but no one stood.
“We are giving budgets to the different departments of the executive and the reason for those budgets is to supply you with the need for finances, to address concerns, particularly for this matter, what happened with those budgets?” he stressed.
Macalipes said they are still waiting for the recommendations from the CEO and align it with the CDRRMO, which the three offices have yet to “sit down.”
He said following the collaboration with the offices, funds for the possible rehabilitation project for Panacan cemetery will be sourced from the Surplus.
The General Fund Annual Budget and Plantilla of the City Government for 2025 amounting to P14.3 billion was approved in the 2nd reading with a unanimous vote.
