CEE Officer-In-Charge Maximo Macalipes Jr. said the crematorium, located at the Wireless Cemetery, which was established in February 2021, has so far cremated a few cadavers. This as Covid-19-related deaths continue to decline as the majority of Dabawenyos are now vaccinated.
Macalipes said they are pushing that this would be opened to those who wish to have their deceased loved ones cremated.
Once approved, he said there will be a P20,000 fee for adult cadavers; P15,000 for those aged 12 to 15 years old; P10,000 for those below 12 years old; and P7,500 for infants.
“Ang amo gina-propose is i-accomodate ang dili Covid-19 [deaths] para mag-generate og income atong crematorium (We are proposing to open the facility even to non-Covid-19 deaths so that our crematorium could generate income),” Macalipes said.
The crematorium was established by the Davao City Government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
During her last State of the City Address in March 2022, then Davao City mayor and current Vice President Sara Duterte said the city-owned crematorium has since provided free cremation services to nearly 300 cadavers.
Current City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, in a radio interview, also said the City might be considering opening the crematorium to those who wish to avail its services.
“Naga-change naman atong data sa Covid… Nagagamay naman atong Covid cases (Our Covid-19 data is changing. Our cases continue to decline),” the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
But he said he would have to consult the matter with the City Health Office.