Fate of funeral parlor hangs in balance

For sure, the owners of a new funeral parlor in Baclayon are dreading to see the day that they will preside over the funeral of their own business. What they have in mind most likely is welcome to my parlor just like what the spider said to the fly in that famous nursery rhyme line. But this may not be the case if recent developments are any gauge.

What started as a flawless construction of a new funeral business right in the boundary of Baclayon and Tagbilaran may not turn out alright if nothing will be done to appease some neighbors who are openly objecting the project. The building housing the funeral parlor is already on its finishing touches and what remains to be ironed out is the alleged objections of some residents. Defying standard business norm that location, location and location are the key to a successful business venture, the new funeral house which is reportedly owned by the St. Peter Memorial Plan Group chose to set up shop in Baclayon after its owners must have heard about what happened to a rival business.

It was confirmed by City Mayor Dan Lim that he disapproved the application for a business permit of Holy Name Funeral Homes, a successful funeral business whose network of branches is all over Bohol . Holy Name applied for a permit to set up a city branch along J.A Clarin St. but the neighbors reportedly objected. To fulfill its plan to penetrate the city offering its funeral services which are known in the towns, Holy Name decided to buy the Osorio-Luna Funeral Homes which was up for sale then thereby escaping the rigors of obtaining clearances from neighbors and the mayor's permit.

In a check with Hipolito Cuajao, barangay captain of Sta. Cruz, he said, there was no resistance to the project when the neighbors were called to a conference in the barangay hall. Some complaints were heard from the same neighbors when people in media started poking their fingers in the new funeral home. Even the owner of the lot who is now leaving in the States has joined the chorus of complaints but for another reason distinct and different from the original complainants. The lot owner reportedly balked at the prospect that his arithmetic was wrong when he summed up the total rental. It was gathered that the owner will only receive a total of P4million for a period of 20 years, the lease limit of the contract to house the controversial business.

However, in a talk with Mr. Boy Servas, manager of the new funeral parlor which according to him will be christened St. Peter Memorial Chapel nothing was spared to comply with requirements set forth by the business section of the municipality of Baclayon . He said everything was above board in the construction citing particularly the provisions on drainage and sewage systems. In fact, he said, before they decided Baclayon as the new site of their business, they saw to it that the people will all agree to the project. As to whether, the parlor has already secured its own Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) no one among the construction workers asked can give a categorical answer. Servas was also mum about the ECC issue.

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