KALIBO, Aklan – A crematorium built in Numancia, Aklan has faced opposition from residents, who fear serious health impacts from the facility of Justrod Crematorium.
The facility has been up and running to give families access for cremation services of their loved ones, which is costly if they have to bring the remains in Iloilo City.
A group of residents sought intervention of local officials in Numancia to express their views on the crematorium plans.
Lucy Hindrana, president of Kilusan Kontra Crematorium, argues that the signed petition letters opposing the construction of crematorium were sent to Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, Office of the Mayor, Municipal Engineering Office, Municipal Planning and Development Office and the barangay captain of Badio.
āOne week we received almost no response to our petition so we approached the Department of Interior and Local Government in the municipality and we forwarded our grievance,ā she added.
Hindrana is upset that a crematorium has been built about 300 meters from where she lives in Barangay Badio.
They were also kept in the dark and were forced to lobby for public opposition to the crematorium.
More than 700 residents have signed the petition against putting up of the crematorium services in a quiet residential area of Barangay Badio. They remain unconvinced a crematorium at this location couldnāt do harm to the environment.
āThere is a possibility that the Covid-19 virus may leak out of the crematorium causing a health danger not only to the residents of Badio, Numancia, Aklan but to all Numancianons,ā the petition said.
Justrod Crematorium earlier has assured the residents that the facility in the vicinity of Badio Municipal Cemetery would not endanger public health.
The facility already accepts cremation services of the deceased from Aklan and the neighboring province of Capiz./PN
