By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

The Bacolod City government plans to transfer several niches that have been occupied for more than 10 years from the Handumanan Public Cemetery.

City Administrator Mark Mayo said the city will implement improvement projects at the cemetery, which require the removal of occupied niches.

Due to limited space, Mayo said the city will transfer the remains to a bone vault to accommodate new burials.

He added that the area where the niches are currently located will be converted into a pathway to make it easier for visitors to move around the cemetery.

Mayo noted that the city will contact the niches’ owners so they can arrange for the exhumation and transfer of the remains to the bone vault within the cemetery.

“If we cannot reach the families, we will publish notices in the newspaper,” Mayo said.

Mayo said he has already instructed the General Services Office and the City Engineer’s Office to determine the total number of affected niches so that the families can be properly informed.

Aside from Handumanan Public Cemetery, Mayo said the city will also remove niches that have been occupied for more than 10 years at the Burgos Public Cemetery, with the remains also to be transferred to a bone vault.

He added that the city will also implement improvement projects in areas along Lopez Jaena Street and Burgos Street./MAP, WDJ