Makati’s new columbarium gives discounts to locals, seniors and PWDs

Makati Mayor Abby Binay —Official Facebook page of Abby Binay

MANILA, Philippines — The newly-opened, city-owned columbarium in Makati City will provide discounts for registered local residents, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who will avail of its cremation services.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay made the announcement on Monday as she led the inauguration of the Makati Columbarium located along Kalayaan Avenue, corner Nicanor Garcia St. in Barangay Valenzuela.

Binay, in a statement, said registered senior citizens and PWDs will get up to 50 percent discount, while other residents will get 25 percent on cremation services and memorial lots.

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On top of this, the local chief executive noted that the rates of the new columbarium are cheaper compared with the current rates of services offered by other columbariums and crematoriums in Metro Manila.

Built on a 4,000-square-meter property that used to be the Makati Catholic Cemetery, the columbarium has two completed and fully operational structures, landscaped gardens, and parking spaces.

There is also a three-story building on the property where the columbary vaults are located, with a total of 14,784 vault units available, each of which measures 30x30x50 centimeters and can hold three standard-size or four small-size urns. Also, the building’s ground floor has eight viewing chapels, while each floor has a lobby lounge, comfort rooms, a PWD lift, and common stairs.

Binay noted that the city plans to expand the facility with additional buildings since the site has “enough room left for expansion.”

“We plan to put up additional structures to increase its capacity and be able to accommodate the needs of Makatizens in the coming years,” she said.