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Saturday, July 01, 2006
Nalzaro: Memorial park in Talisay
By Bobby Nalzaro
Residents in three Talisay City barangays oppose the plan to set up a memorial park in Barangay Lawaan 1. A private company is developing a four-hectare area along the national highway to be named after the late Pope John Paul II.
In a series of public hearings on the issue, residents of Lawaan 1, Linao and Mohon opposed the project on the following grounds:
--It violates the sanitation code, which states that there should be no burial ground within 50 meters from a water supply source. Residents in these areas rely on deep wells for their water needs.
--It violates a city zoning ordinance mandating that cemeteries and memorial parks should be located outside or within reasonable distance from residential zones.
Aside from the residents' opposition, the barangay councils of Lawaan, Mohon and Linao also passed resolutions against the project. Both the residents and the councils assailed Talisay City Mayor Socrates “Soc” Fernandez for endorsing the plan to the Department of Health during an inspection even without the approval of the City Council.
City Legal Officer Aurora Econg is also reportedly asking officials of the three barangay to change their stand. Sources say she met secretly with them to persuade them to reverse their earlier resolutions. The barangay councils’ approval is vital to whatever decision the City Council will make on the matter.
I would like to remind Talisay City officials of the sayings, “The authority of the government emanates from the people” and “Vox populi, vox dei” (“The voice of the people is the voice of God”).
As responsible leaders, they should be sensitive and responsive to the sentiments and concerns of their constituents. And since most of the residents oppose the project, city officials should heed them. Surely, these residents have valid reasons for their opposition.
If city officials want to develop the area, a memorial park is not the answer. Memorial parks generate small revenue and employment opportunity is limited.
Besides, there are already two memorial parks in the city, the Cebu South Memorial Park in Pooc and the newly opened Evergreen Memorial Park along the South Coastal Road.
While projects trigger economic activity in a locality, local officials should not only be concerned with generating revenue. They should strike a balance between development and the welfare and protection of their constituents.
Hinaot unta nga malamdagan mo sa Espiritu Santo, labi na si Brod Soc.
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com/ 0918-2198333)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 30, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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