Manila opens P90-M columbarium, crypt at Manila North Cemetery

The city government of Manila opened on Monday its P90-million columbarium and apartment-type crypt at the Manila North Cemetery that will be offered for free among the city's poor residents.

Mayor Joseph Estrada led the inauguration ceremonies at Metro Manila's biggest cemetery, saying the project aims to benefit thousands of poor Manileños who are financially incapable to provide decent wake and burial to their deceased loved ones.

"In commemoration of All Souls’ Day, this is the city government’s humble offering to the Manileños and their departed loved ones," Estrada said. "I hope through this project, we would be able to honor and pay respect to the dead by giving them decent resting place."

"The families of the deceased need not worry anymore. We now have complete burial package for their departed relatives. And these are all free," he added.

Construction for the 5,000-square meter, four-storey columbarium and apartment-type crypt started in February.

Meanwhile, Manila North Cemetery and Manila South Cemetery director Daniel Tan said the columbarium can accommodate 4,088 niches while the crypt can hold 1,218 slots for coffins.

Tan credited Estrada for the idea of constructing the columbarium and crypt as the 54-hectare cemetery is fast running out of space.

"This is the first time a public cemetery here in Manila will have a high-class columbarium, comparable to those found in high-end private memorial parks, which is really expensive," he said.

Aside from the columbarium and crypt, the Manila city government also looks to convert the city morgue to the City Funeral Home where residents can hold wakes for the deceased for free. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News