In an interview on Friday, Songsong said the cemetery in Chalan Kanoa, which is owned by Mount Carmel Church, is now reaching its maximum allowable capacity.
He said the proposed Marpi public cemetery involves the construction of 3,705 plots, paved roads, a ponding basin and installation of lights.
The project, which at the time was supposed to cost $1 million, was contracted to GPPC Inc. in early 2000.
However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service required the CNMI government to address some environmental issues before the project could proceed.
Songsong said the federal agency required DPW to hire a biologist to study the site and come up with the population viability of some endangered bird species.
The CNMI government, he said, was not able to comply immediately with those conditions.
“Now we feel the need to award the project again.” Songsong said, adding that the original funding may not be the same this time due to the rising costs.
In a separate interview, Fr. Ryan Jimenez and Fr. Manny Corcuero said the Chalan Kanoa Cemetery is now overcrowded.
It no longer has new plots.
The only way people can bury their dead loved ones there is by using their existing plots or those occupied by relatives who have passed away many years ago.
The cemetery, Jimenez said, receives an average of 150 interments a year.
Those who don’t have relatives at the Chalan Kanoa cemetery can bury their dead at the public cemetery in Tanapag.
