THE 300 families living inside the city cemetery in Bolonsiri, Camaman-an need not worry about being left homeless as the City Government vowed to prioritize their relocation once the rehabilitation begins, an official said Monday, November 4.

City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) head Engineer Armen Cuenca said they have already talked with the informal settlers about the plan to transform the decades-old cemetery into a City Memorial Park in 2020.

"Naistorya na nato sila, napasabot na. Dili man nato sila ipapahawa. Iplastar man ug tarong nga dili sila makahugaw ug makadisturbo sa menteryo (We explained it to them. We will not drive them out. We want to make sure that they won't vandalize or disturb the cemetery)," Cuenca said.

Clenro will take the lead on the cemetery rehabilitation plan.

Councilor Teodulfo "Bong" Lao, for his part, said consultations should be done first before the implementation.

Lao, however, assured the informal settlers that they will not be left homeless, adding that the City has purchased over 100 hectares of land for the housing program.

"Unahon na sila (They will be a priority). Dili pwede mag-develop sa menteryo nga naa pa sila (We cannot develop the cemetery if they are there). Dili lang sila mabalaka kay (They need not worry because) the housing program can be availed at minimal cost, and we have enough land for relocation and housing program of the city government," he said.

Lao is one of the councilors who pushed for the cemetery's rehabilitation. He pointed out that this problem has been overlooked by previous officials.

"Pataas na dapat ang pantyon nga design ug magbutang na ug crematorium magbutang para dili mapuno ug paspas ang menteryo (The tombs' design should be upwards and a crematorium should be built so that the cemetery will not be full)," he added.

The City Government is urging residents to have the remains of their loved ones buried in Phases 1 and 2 exhumed from the cemetery as the rehabilitation starts in 2020.

On October 29, Mayor Oscar Moreno signed an executive order creating a City Cemetery Development Board to manage the development of Bolonsiri from a neglected public cemetery to a City Memorial Park.

Moreno also ordered the transfer of the cemetery management from the City Public Services Office to the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro).

According to Clenro, around 44,000 people were buried in the cemetery.