Visitors of the Makati City Public Cemetery along Kalayaan Avenue would see its sad, deteriorating state. But it was not supposed to look like that. (READ: Makati’s cemetery: Gone to the dogs)

The Makati city government temporarily closed the cemetery in January 2008, through City Resolution No. 2008-003, to transform it into a state-of-the-art facility, which includes a crematorium and a columbarium.

Interment services were suspended for 5 years, giving families and relatives time to retrieve their loved ones’ remains and transfer it to another cemetery.

By now, nearly 7 years since its closure, the cemetery should have been on the road to resurrection, but it has yet to proceed.

“Alam mo naman ang pulitika dito sa Makati. Sobra ang pulitika natin dito. Dapat naumpisahan na ito. Dapat nga wala nang sementeryo ngayon dito eh,” said Manuel Nava, the cemetery’s administrator.

(You know politics here in Makati. It’s too much. The redevelopment should have started. In fact, this cemetery as it is right now should have been gone.)

He said that funds had already been allocated and a contractor had been selected for the redevelopment. But for unknown reasons, the project was put on hold, according to Nava.

Another possible reason for the delay in the cemetery’s upgrade, said Nava, is the Senate probe into the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and into the wealth of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was mayor of Makati for over 20 years.

His son, Jejomar Erwin or “Junjun”, became mayor of Makati in 2010. His election that year was not without controversy, as he went up against former Binay ally and outgoing vice mayor Ernesto Mercado, who is now testifying against Vice President Binay in the Senate.

Nava awaits the cemetery’s rebirth, which he hopes would push through sooner or later. “Basta sinabi na umpisahan na iyan, kikilos na kami kasi sobra na ang paghahantay namin.“

(As soon as there’s a signal to start, we would proceed because we have been waiting for so long.) – Rappler.com