Wednesday, January 30, 2008
THE Iloilo City Zoning Board (ICZB) junked another application for a crematorium project in the Jaro district.
Nathaniel Guillergan of the city zoning office said the trashing of the application of Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes was made following a voting that had residents Balabago, Jaro who are opposed to the crematorium prevailing over those that favor it.
Gegato was the second applicant for a crematorium that failed to acquire the approval of the ICZB. It was the Philippine American Cemetery Association's application that initially gained disapproval from the board. The latter proposed that the crematorium must be built in Commission Civil, Jaro, where the cemetery is located.
Guillergan, who disapproved the project, said it would be hazardous to the people's health. It is also the reason that the application failed to obtain public acceptance.
He said the city zoning ordinance requires that every project like a crematorium must be built at least 200 meters away from a school, restaurant, and residences for health concerns.
Gegato's proposed site is only 50 meters away from the local primary school.
A member of the local zoning board, Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo, voted in favor of the project and justified that the provisions that Guillergancited were too old and need amendment considering the improved living of people nowadays.
He said that if the concern of the board is the people's health, several funeral parlors located in populated area and adjacent to learning institutions like Porras and Somo funeral homes in Lapaz and City Proper should have been disapproved. (JDB)
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