On March 5, 2025, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. led the inauguration and blessing of the newly expanded section of the Angeles City Public Cemetery in Barangay Capaya. This expansion, which marks the completion of Phase 3, has significantly increased the cemetery’s capacity, now accommodating a total of 12,518 niches and columbarium slots. The expansion ensures sufficient space for residents until 2030.
The event was attended by a number of city officials, including Pampanga First District Representative Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II, Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, members of the City Council, Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, former Public Cemetery Head Philip Samson, department heads, chiefs-of-offices, and barangay captains. The expansion was celebrated as a major step toward enhancing public services for the city’s growing population.
In his remarks, Mayor Lazatin highlighted the significance of the expansion in improving public cemetery services. “Mas marami pa po tayong mabibigyan ng serbisyo sa ating public cemetery dahil na rin sa pagbubukas ng Phase 3 nito,” he said, emphasizing that the expansion would meet the city’s needs for the next five years without requiring immediate further expansion.
The expanded cemetery now includes 7,192 full-body niches, with 6,380 for adults and 812 for children, along with 3,726 bone niches and 1,600 columbarium slots. Each columbarium slot is designed to hold 2 to 3 urns, depending on their size. This expansion provides ample space for the city’s residents to ensure that they have access to proper burial spaces for their loved ones.
According to Bryan Samson, the Angeles City Public Cemetery Head, the new expanded capacity will be sufficient for the city’s needs until 2030, providing peace of mind to the community that there will be no shortage of spaces in the near future.
Before Mayor Lazatin took office in 2019, the Angeles City Public Cemetery had only 600 niches, which were insufficient to accommodate the growing population. The expansion, part of the Mayor’s commitment to improving public services, reflects the city’s ongoing efforts to address the evolving needs of its residents.
With the successful completion of Phase 3, the city is poised to continue enhancing public infrastructure and services, ensuring that every resident has access to dignified final resting places for their loved ones.
Source: Angeles City Information Office
