Rama mulls public mortuaries

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama eyes the construction of at least five public mortuaries within the city and until such time, all wakes will be prohibited along the road.

Rama said he received complaints from the private sector and other citizens about wakes being held along the road causing traffic congestion especially in places where streets are constricted.

Wake or vigil for the deceased along the road is also obstructing pedestrians who should be using the sidewalks.

Rama has tapped Punta Princesa Barangay Captain Jose Navarro to identify the possible areas where building mortuaries are suitable. Rama wants one in the south, one in the north, one in the central, one in the mountain barangay and another somewhere ideal for the coastal barangays.

He said that it would be easier for Navarro to identify the ideal places for mortuaries since he was once familiar with all barangays being the former president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).

“The city is growing and there is the problem of traffic congestion growing along with it. So what we want is to do away with the obstruction on the roads,” Rama said.

The mayor said that it is too early to decide yet whether the public mortuaries will be open to the public at no cost because it will still depend on the arrangement with who will build the structures.

“Let us focus first on looking for the place. Then we will decide later how it shall be utilized,” Rama said.

On the other hand, the mayor is also tapping Navarro’s expertise as former bank manager in the processing of the title of the ABC lot across the city hall.

The ABC wants to build a new office at the lot across city hall since their stay at the South Road Properties is only temporary. Filinvest Land Incorporated is also eyeing the place since it is adjacent to pond F, which FLI bought from the city government.

Navarro shall process the titling of the lot and negotiate with private establishments for partnership in the construction of the building. They want to build on a public-private-partnership scheme so that the ABC will not have to spend so much.

Rama said he is glad that there is someone who volunteered to be of help who has the expertise on such matters. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/FPL (THE FREEMAN)