CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he is planning to convert the Doña Pepang Cemetery in Barangay Tejero into a graveyard for departed members of interfaith groups.
The mayor came up with this idea after the construction of the cemetery in Osmeña Shrine in Barangay Kalunasan intended for members of interfaith groups did not push through.
Osmeña, however, said the plan has to be studied first as residents near Doña Pepang Cemetery are against it.
“We have to sort all of these out. I’m more inclined to convert this into a cemetery for the interfaith because they still don’t have any,” he said. “There’s a public resistance. I don’t know why. People don’t like (it), it’s feasible but they don’t like (it).”
They mayor said that there is also a proposal to convert the cemetery into a housing site, which will accommodate families who used to reside inside the grave site.
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Barangay Tejero, for its part, wants to construct an extension of their multi-purpose building.
Tejero Councilor Garry Lao said that the barangay is preparing to submit a letter to the mayor about their request.
Asked if it will still be converted into a heritage park, Osmeña said a small park may still be put up there.
“I’ll make it a semi-park. I’ll pull out the statue of Don Vicente Rama and put it here. That’s what he likes di ba? I’ll pull out my father’s statue here also. Silang duha. They can talk all night, all day whatever,” Osmeña said.
The statues of Don Vicente Rama and the late senator Don Sergio Osmeña Jr. are currently placed in Plaza Sugbo located in front of the City Hall.
During his stint, former mayor Michael Rama wanted the Doña Pepang Cemetery to be converted into a heritage park, which was one of the reasons why settlers were asked to leave the area.
Osmeña, together with wife and Councilor Margarita Osmeña, son Miguel and grandchild Anita, visited the Doña Pepang Cemetery, which houses the Osmeña mausoleum. It is the resting place of the mayor’s father; first lady Estefania “Doña Pepang” Veloso Osmeña, wife of the late president; and Cebu’s “Grand Old Man” Sergio Osmeña Sr.