Tanapag cemetery nearly full

The Environmental Health Disease and Prevention office of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. will no longer be able to accommodate new burial plot permits requests for the Tanapag Public Cemetery by mid-year of 2023 due to its full capacity.

In order to extend the cemetery’s capacity, CHCC chief executive officer Esther L. Muña has asked for Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ help in clearing a portion of the cemetery to allow for a little more expansion and create more available space.

In her letter dated March 17, 2023 to Palacios, Muña said that extending the use of the Tanapag Public Cemetery for a few more years will ensure that proper burial plots “are accessible to bereaved families seeking the final resting place [for] their loved ones.”

Muña also recommended that the EHDP notify the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, which is the lead agency assigned to oversee the Marpi Public Cemetery, about the limited burial plots remaining at the Tanapag cemetery so it can start making plans now.

Esther L. Muña

Muña said the EHDP recently assessed the capacity status of the Tanapag Public Cemetery and found that it is now on its last section of cleared land to accommodate, at most, an additional 20 burial plots.

Based on Vital Statistics data, Muña said, an average of approximately 50 burials were accommodated per year between 2015-2022.

Consequently, EHDP issues nearly five burial permits per month to process for new plot assignments at the Tanapag Public Cemetery.

To help alleviate this issue, Muña said the Tanapag Public Cemetery requires extensive land clearing and the removal of buried concrete slabs and other debris obstructing a significant amount of space on the north section that may be used for future burial plot assignments.

By clearing that area of land and incorporating routine maintenance, it will allow the EHDP to extend the use of the cemetery for an additional five to 10 years and further increase plot assignments, Muna said.

She noted that, in case the Tanapag Public Cemetery meets its capacity, the next designated public cemetery pursuant to Public Law 1-117 is the Marpi Public Cemetery. Muña said the Marpi Public Cemetery, however, is currently nonoperational due to “a variety of challenges.”