MAKATI CITY — Makati City Mayor Abby Binay led the inauguration of the Makati Columbarium located along Kalayaan Avenue corner Nicanor Garcia St. in Barangay Valenzuela.
“At last, Makatizens now have a facility that offers a decent place to lay their loved ones to rest. The Makati Columbarium offers services at affordable rates, while promoting safety, convenience, and sustainability,” Mayor Abby said.
She was joined by Makati Citys Representative Luis Campos and Kid Peña, Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, representatives of Anglo Archers Assets Corporation, and other city officials.
Binay said the services of the Makati Columbarium are priced lower than private services, and the city government will give additional subsidies.
“Compared with the current rates of services offered by other columbariums and crematoriums in Metro Manila, the Makati Columbarium rates are much cheaper, even more so with memorial lots. Makatizens who are senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD) will get up to 50 percent discount, while other residents will get 25 percent,” she added.
According to the city government, the columbarium was built on a 4,000-square meter property that used to be the Makati Catholic Cemetery, the columbarium has two completed and fully operational structures, landscaped gardens and parking spaces.
At the center is the one-storey administration building that holds the administration office, main chapel, and an eco-friendly crematorium. The crematorium has an Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Behind the administration building is a three-story building where the columbary vaults are located, with a total of 14,784 vault units available. Eight viewing chapels are at the ground floor, while each floor has a lobby lounge, comfort rooms, a PWD lift, and common stairs.
Each vault unit measures 30 x 30 x 50 centimeters and can hold three standard-size or four small-size urns. It has a tile cover and is up to seven levels, A to G.
The mayor also announced plans to expand the facility to increase its capacity so it can continue to serve the needs of Makatizens in the coming years.
“The additional buildings and improvements, including more crypts and viewing chapels, will be built by our private partner, so there will be no more cash out on the part of the city.” (JEG/PIA-NCR)
