The City Economic Enterprise projected an increase of five percent in net profit this year with the newly approved rates on Davao City Recreation Center (DCRC) and the improvement of other services under the department.

Jose Elmario P. Guintadcan, head of the department, said yesterday in the weekly press forum at Cafe Rysus in SM City Davao that the office generated P104 million last year, a revenue which is P12 million higher compare with its target for the year.

Revenues are collected from city-owned public markets, Davao City Overland Transport Terminal, slaughterhouse, Sta. Ana Port, public cemeteries, Magsaysay Park and DCRC, formerly Almendras Gym.

Guintadcan said their revenue collection could even increase this year with the spike in rates on DCRC. The rate for boxing promotions in the center, for instance, is now P15,000 per day for non-aircon accommodation, about three times higher than the previous rate of P4,800 per day.

“We have also improved the services under the department,” he said.

Last year, the department started the rehabilitation of the public-owned Wireless Cemetery at Madapo Hills. The first phase of the rehabilitation is now 70% complete and is eyed to be finished by next month.

At least P5 million out of the P23.2 million budget of the project was released for the implementation of its first phase. The cemetery covers 1.1 hectares. Part of the first phase is the construction of three-level ossuaries that will house the skeletal remains in a chest to maximize the space.

There would be at least 1,920 units of ossuaries.

The department also exhumed 3,492 bones before the actual implementation of the project, wherein majority of it were temporarily placed in a depository area while the remaining bones were transferred to other cemeteries.

The department further proposed to amend the revenue code to increase the rental rates in the public-owned cemeteries and contract of lease to six years. The rental rate for an ossuary, for instance, is proposed to amount P250 per year.