On January 15, 2025, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. inaugurated the Phase 2 expansion of the Angeles City Public Cemetery, a key initiative to enhance public services and provide better facilities for the city’s residents. The expansion, located in Sapalibutad, covers 11,510 square meters and adds 800 columbarium slots and 2,400 bone niches. Additionally, there are plans to add 3,360 more bone niches in the future.
“This expansion is a crucial investment for our community, ensuring that we can continue to offer essential services, particularly during difficult times,” Mayor Lazatin stated during the inauguration. He emphasized the city’s commitment to providing affordable and dignified burial options, an issue that became especially important during the pandemic.
The city government’s proactive response to the rising demand for burial space included the introduction of free caskets and discounts on columbarium fees. These initiatives, which started during the pandemic, have eased the financial burden for many families. So far, the free casket program has benefitted 632 individuals.
The new expansion also includes 37 parking spaces, 837 square meters for further bone niche development, and 1,425 square meters of open space. The ₱70 million budget for the Phase 2 expansion underscores the city’s dedication to addressing the growing need for burial services while ensuring a respectful and dignified resting place for residents.
With these recent additions, the Angeles City Public Cemetery now has a total capacity of 10,118 burial spaces. This includes 5,752 full-body niches (5,228 for adults and 524 for children), 2,766 bone niches, and 1,600 columbarium slots, each capable of holding 2 to 3 urns depending on size. The city’s ongoing investment in its public cemetery aims to keep pace with the increasing demand for such services.
This expansion follows the Phase 1 development, which was inaugurated by Mayor Lazatin on September 5, 2024, and added 2,748 niches. Additionally, the city has upgraded the cemetery’s equipment, including a new crematorium machine and two scissor lifts, to further improve services.
When Mayor Lazatin took office in 2019, the public cemetery had only 600 niches. With these continued expansions, the city is ensuring that future generations of Angelenos have access to dignified and affordable burial services.
Source: Angeles City Information Office
