Davao City council moves to charge one-time fee for Muslim cemetery slots in Tagakpan

Families burying loved ones at the new Muslim Cemetery inside the Tagakpan Cemetery in Davao City would pay a single fee with no yearly charges under an ordinance approved on second reading by the City Council, according to Mindanao Times.

The measure, sponsored by Councilor Ragde Ibuyan, chair of the committee on government enterprises and privatization, passed second reading on Tuesday, November 3. The proposed rates are P7,000 for a Type A lot meant for children, measuring 4 to 5 feet by 2 to 2.5 feet, and P15,000 for a Type B lot measuring 7 feet by 3 feet. These are the lowest figures within the range proposed by the City Economic Enterprises (CEE).

Ibuyan said the rates were set after a study and a public hearing. "It was meant to be the lowest amount that could still sustain cemetery operations, including maintenance, landscaping, and materials," he told reporters.

Regular city cemeteries offer six-year leases, and the city's revenue code imposes a P200 annual fee after the sixth year. Lots at the Muslim cemetery, however, would be granted in perpetuity, with no exhumation, transfer or disturbance of remains, in keeping with Islamic tradition. Instead of a lease, families would receive a contract granting the right of interment, while the city keeps ownership of the land.

The rates are about 60 percent lower than those of private cemeteries surveyed by the city, a figure the City Muslim Affairs Office also confirmed. The CEE said it would coordinate with the City Social Welfare and Development Office and other agencies to help families who need financial assistance.

More than 230 adult slots and more than 70 child slots are available. The fees are expected to raise P4.45 million, short of the P7.33-million project cost, but the committee said the rates were set in the spirit of public service. Proceeds will also help fund future Muslim cemeteries.

CEE manager Macky Macalipes said construction started in May 2025 and is 87 percent complete. Funded under the 2022 Annual Development Plan Supplemental Budget 2, the project includes a prayer building, pathways and a main entrance.

The city also plans to rehabilitate and expand the Maa Muslim Cemetery under the 2027 budget, along with drainage, road and beautification works at the Maa, Panacan and Tibungco cemeteries. Ibuyan said the city will look for land in the Second District, which has a large Muslim population, for another Muslim cemetery. He added that an ordinance granting a 20 percent discount on cemetery slots for deceased senior citizens and persons with disabilities is set to be finalized next month.