Families bringing loved ones to their final resting place at Golden Haven Cemetery in Barangay Binaliw are facing added difficulty as a damaged bridge inside the cemetery remains impassable to vehicles following Typhoon Tino.
Funeral vehicles and private vehicles carrying mourners have reportedly been forced to stop along the main road outside the cemetery because they can no longer cross the damaged bridge, Cebu City Councilor Jun Alcover said.
Alcover raised the issue during his privilege speech before the Cebu City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 25, urging concerned parties to work on restoring safe access to the cemetery.
He said the situation is more than an infrastructure concern because it adds to the burden of families already coping with the death of a loved one.
Mourners may have to walk from the main road to the burial area when vehicles cannot enter the cemetery, which could pose difficulties for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, children and others with limited mobility.
Alcover also raised concerns about traffic and public safety, particularly with funeral and private vehicles stopping along the main road outside the cemetery.
He questioned whether emergency vehicles such as ambulances and rescue units would be able to enter the cemetery quickly if an emergency occurs.
The councilor said the city should first establish the facts and determine who is responsible for the damaged bridge before assigning liability to Golden Haven Memorial Park and Cemetery.
If the repair falls under the cemetery management’s responsibility, Alcover said it should provide an update on the bridge’s condition, repairs already undertaken and the expected timeline for restoration.
He also called on concerned city offices to provide assistance if the repair requires engineering, structural, permitting or other regulatory interventions.
Council to hold executive session
Alcover moved for the Cebu City Sangguniang Panlungsod to hold an executive session in September with representatives of Golden Haven, the Office of the Building Official, Barangay Binaliw and the Cebu City Transportation Office.
The session will be conducted in aid of legislation and will focus on the damaged bridge and continuing access problems at the cemetery.
He also moved to authorize the Sangguniang Panlungsod Secretariat to invite representatives of Golden Haven and the concerned government offices.
Alcover further called on the Office of the City Engineer, OBO, CCTO and other appropriate offices to coordinate with cemetery management and assess the bridge.
While permanent repairs could take time, he suggested exploring a safe temporary access arrangement for funeral vehicles, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and emergency responders.
He said addressing the problem promptly could help prevent traffic incidents, emergency access difficulties and further hardship for families visiting the cemetery.
Photo courtesy of SP Secretariat- Cebu City
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