Road to New Baguio City Jail to Displace Over 300 Tombs; Consultation Postponed
The peaceful rest of hundreds of departed souls at the Baguio City Public Cemetery may soon be interrupted as the city moves forward with a critical infrastructure project. More than 300 tombs are slated for relocation to make way for an access road leading to the new Baguio City Jail facility in San Luis Village.
The Project Scope
The proposed road is a joint initiative between the City Government of Baguio and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). The project aims to provide a reliable entry and exit point for the upcoming jail facility, which is intended to address the severe overcrowding at the current city jail. However, the path of progress necessitates cutting through a significant portion of the city’s primary public burial ground.
According to the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), approximately 300 burial sites fall within the project’s footprint. This has sparked concerns among local residents and families whose relatives are interred in the affected areas.
Consultation Delayed
A public consultation originally scheduled for April 29, 2026, which was intended to address the concerns of the affected families, has been officially postponed. City officials stated that the delay is necessary to finalize the project’s funding details and administrative logistics between the local government and the BJMP.
"We want to ensure that when we face the families, we have a concrete plan for the dignified relocation of their loved ones and clear information on the support the city will provide," a representative from the City Public Information Office noted.
A Call for Coordination
While a new date for the consultation has yet to be announced, CEPMO is urging relatives of those buried at the Baguio Public Cemetery to proactively reach out to their office. The city is seeking to establish a database of affected families to ensure that the exhumation and transfer process—should it proceed—is conducted with the highest level of respect and adherence to cultural and religious traditions.
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