December 02, 2008 02:58 PM Tuesday
[ journal.com.ph ] December 2, 2008
By: Steve A. Gosuico
TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – The Sangguniang Bayan here has banned the rampant illegal conversion of public and private lands into cemeteries and memorial parks. Ordinance No. 22-08 which prohibits the land conversion was signed by Mayor Nery L. Santos.
SB chairman Vice Mayor Francis Vincent V. de Leon said violators face penalties ranging from six months to one year imprisonment and a fine of P5,000.
The move was made amid mounting complaints reaching the SB that agricultural and private lots converted into cemeteries and memorial parks have sprouted like mushrooms near the local government-owned cemetery here.
Local residents complained that these lots have allegedly been illegally converted or utilized as such without securing any conversion order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the HLURB or having these lots re-classified for the purpose.
The ordinance was unanimously approved by the SB on motions of councilors Anselmo B. Rodiel III and Andrei C. Bigcas.
