Rama OKs design for Doña Pepang heritage park

CEBU, Philippines — Rehabilitation works at Osmeña Mausoleum, more popularly known as Doña Pepang Cemetery, in Barangay Carreta are expected to resume soon after Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has approved the design for its conversion into a heritage park.

The burial site of former president Sergio Osmeña, Sr. and other illustrious members of the Osmeña clan will be made a heritage park in line with Rama’s vision to transfer Cebu City into a place like Singapore.

Ramil Ayuman, special assistant to the mayor, said the mayor has already approved the design. He said the engineering department will now proceed with the program of works and estimates.

Ayuman, who was tasked to supervise the rehabilitation of Doña Pepang, said they are given until June 12 this year to finish the project.

While the program of works and estimates is still being prepared, Ayuman said his team will conduct another inspection of the cemetery after learning that some of the informal settlers are back in the area. Ayuman said his team will soon conduct another clearing operation.

During the first clearing operation in the area, authorizes discovered several drug paraphernalia. This has also led to threats to some members of the demolition team.

In fact, one of the personnel of the city’s anti-squatting team received a death threat last year.

Rama first brought up the idea of making Doña Pepang Cemetery a heritage park in 2015. The proposal was met with strong opposition from former mayor Tomas Osmeña. It was also shelved when Rama lost to Osmeña in the 2016 elections.

He revived the plan after returning to City Hall last year. Aside from Doña Pepang, several other old public cemeteries will be converted into a heritage park as well. — FPL (FREEMAN)