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In the Philippines, informal settlers in cemeteries is not unusual to our culture.

People sleep in haphazard shanties built on top of the tombs, and some families occupied

in mausoleums (Billing, 2018). All public cemeteries are hopelessly overcrowded with

unorganized tombs that the automobile can't even reach its destination that mourners have

to carry the coffin to the particular place. Pollution is also becoming a menace to public

cemeteries (Dean, 2017). In the year 2015, there were 302 truckloads of garbage from 26

cemeteries in Metro Manila alone (Gamil, 2016).

Despite the growing popularity of columbarium, cremation and memorial parks,

Filipino still prefer to bury their loved ones in public cemeteries. This is because

columbarium, cremation and memorial parks are too expensive, whereas public cemeteries

are free except for its annual rent. But public cemeteries have reached its limit and can

accommodate no more (Cruz, 2012).

Paradoxically, while the population of the living decreases, the population of the

dead increases. Expanding public cemeteries or creating new one is better said than done,

however, public land is decreasing rapidly.

As of 2019, the Philippines current population is 108, 335, 810 (United Nations

Population Division, 2019). There are 1,731,289 live births which is equivalent to 4,744

babies brought out to this world daily. And the number of reported deaths have a 579, 237

in the year 2017 having the number of 1,587 people that die daily (Philippines Statistics

Authority, 2019). In Region VIII, Tacloban City is the only highest urbanized city in the

region and has a population of 242, 000 on the 2015 Census.

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Tacloban City has been expanding and growing rapidly that the mortality rate issues

of the numerous cemeteries within and outside the city are still in progress. According to

City Civil Registrar of Tacloban City (2019), the registered death reaches more or less 15

people a day. Hence, with the said average rate, public cemetery in Tacloban City is in

need of management and expansion.

This project proposal will focus on solving the current problems with public

cemetery namely informal settlers, pollution, and unorganized tombs. The study will

collect relevant data and information that will enable the researchers to develop an efficient

design for the vertical cemetery. The study will analyze and determine the factors

concerning the development of a vertical cemetery in Tacloban City by mainly addressing

the community issues regarding traditions and religious beliefs towards funeral designs.

Hence, this project will conduct the study to improve the ways of Filipino funerary design

by applying the innovative architectural approach towards funeral designs for public

cemeteries.

Objectives of the Study

According to Wikipedia (n.d.), Tacloban is a first class highly urbanized city in the

Philippines with a population of 242, 089 in the 2015 census. As the population rises, the

city space decreases, so are the cemeteries. Hence, some of the tombs are stacked vertically

and some graves are missing or unlocated that cause complaints from the living relatives.
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As environment issues rises, the society must have the initiative to involve in

solutions that will aim for the betterment. Thus, to enhance an environment, the primary

requirement is by educating the public through public awareness.

The study aims to provide a sustainable, resilient and innovative solution for the

increasing number of tombs and the lacking land in the city, and by applying Innovative

Architecture, the proponents will come up with a solution that will harm the environment

less and will uplift the economic growth to the community. To aid the proponents in the

design formulation, the study specifically aims to:

o To identify local and national laws that regulates that develops the planning and

designing of a cemetery.

o To determine the current situation of the existing Tacloban Public Cemetery in

terms of:

 Site development plan

 Design and aesthetics

 Amenities, facilities, services and utilities

 Impact to the environment

o To identify if the location is suitable for the Proposed Innovative Funerary

Design Approach of a Vertical Entombment.

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Significance of the Study

The study will focus primarily on developing a design that will provide the basic

needs of the visitors, that will harm the environment less and will uplift the economic

growth of Tacloban City. Those who will benefit this study are:

The government/LGU’s. The outcome of the study will benefit the local

government involved. These are the group of people authorized in taking actions for a

public cemetery and will create local job opportunity.

Architecture Students. This study will serve as a guide in planning and designing

a vertical cemetery or any of its associated facilities. Moreover, this may serve as a

reference source in their future studies and also serve as an inspiration to them as future

designers.

Future Researchers. The study will encourage people to further research on

additional facilities that can be integrated into the cemetery. The possible economic growth

that the vertical cemetery may impact to the community can be a learning paradigm to the

present researchers and aspiring ones that wish to pursue studies regarding cemetery,

memorial park, accessibility, and sustainability as major factors in economic growth.

The Society. The study will prominently benefit the general public as it will provide

accessible funerary services particularly in traditional burial and any of its associated

facilities.

Developers. The study will guide as a reference source to the future development

in design standards and space requirements of a vertical cemetery or any of its associated

facilities.
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Significance of the Project

The REDEVELOPMENT OF TACLOBAN PUBLIC CEMETERY: An Innovative

Funerary Design Approach of a Vertical Entombment will leave an astounding impact not

just in Tacloban City, but in Eastern Visayas. The study will provide and contribute

beneficial results to other factors of the society, such as:

Social. The project will help them strengthen the awareness to the importance of a

public cemetery, it will improve the society’s experience, education, and understanding of

a vertical cemetery. Moreover, it will provide a unique place of spiritual comfort for the

living relatives or patrons.

Economic. Burial cost a lot, with maintenance and renewal of lot, it will cost more.

The project will enhance the economic growth, providing this structure is cheaper for the

families and cost effective to the government.

Cultural. The project will have a preservation of cultural beliefs. The unusual

culture of some Filipinos settling in cemeteries gives a negative impact to the society. Thus,

providing this infrastructure will help end this unusual culture and will have an accessible

funerary design.

Environment. The project will help promote vertical cemetery; it can cater without

sacrificing more land. Moreover, the project will provide a sustainable and environment

friendly in the community.