ILOILO City – Over a hundred families in Zone 2B, Barangay Balabago, Jaro district complained they could not stand the foul smell of the smoke emitted by a crematorium.
In a position paper written in Hiligaynon, the families stated: “Many of us, young and old, are getting sick because of the foul smell.”
They further expressed concern that the crematorium was near Balabago Elementary School.
The foul smell had long been a community concern, according to the families, but it became more intense lately “bangod sa sunod-sunod nga cremation sang mga patay, ilabi na sa subong nga panahon sang COVID- 19 pandemic.”
Yesterday 109 families submitted their position paper to Mayor Jerry Treñas and Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, the city government’s focal person for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Sometimes we could not finish our lunch. We have to stop eating because the smell is too much to bear,” said a 38-year-old male barangay resident who identified himself only as Randy.
He was referring to the Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes and Crematory.
“Kon mag-cremate sila sige-sige, ang baho sakit sa dughan,” Randy added.
Randy clarified that Zone 2B families do not want the crematorium to close shop.
“We just want them to get rid of the foul smell. It has become a big public inconvenience,” he said.
Another resident said what concerned her was the health of her two young children and the elderly which could be compromised by the foul smell.
Identifying herself only as Marjo, she said the crematorium appeared to have been operating daily since the last week of March.
May be it had something to do with the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
The cremation of COVID-19 mortalities is a protocol set by the Department of Health (DOH) central office.
Latest data from DOH Region 6, however, showed Western Visayas having seven deaths only due to this disease.
It is unclear if cremation is also the protocol for suspected and probable cases who die.
Panay News learned yesterday that barangay officials recently held a public hearing on the foul smell attended by representatives from DOH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the funeral homes owner, Fely Abecia.
“Naghambal si Mrs. Fely nga once may i-cremate sila, i-inform nila ang DOHand DENR para makakadto sa Zone 2B kag ma-check kon bala nagakalab-ot dira ang baho,” said barangay kagawad Aurelio Perez, vice chairperson of the barangay council’s committee on environment.
Abecia also announced that Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes and Crematory’s chimney would be raised up further to keep smoke emissions higher and far away from residences, and that a new equipment had been purchased and ready for shipment to further improve their service./PN
