With just eight burial plots left, time is running out at the Vicente Limtiaco Cemetery. Back in May, Senator Tina Muna Barnes introduced a bill to transfer over 11 acres of nearby government land to Parks & Recreation, but where does that effort stand now? Here's an update on this critical space crunch.

"I think we are down to five," said Department of Parks & Recreation director Angel Sablan on how many burial plots remain at Tiguac Cemetery.  It was back in May when a public hearing was held for Bill 49, introduced by Sen. Tina Muna Barnes, it would transfer over 11 acres of much-needed property to the DPR to expand the Vicente A. Limitaco Cemetery, commonly referred to as 'Tiguac.'

We reached out to Sablan for an update, as they were in a situation where if something wasn't done fast, they may have to close but he said in a recent meeting with the Lt. Governor of Guam.

"We are going to go ahead and use the property because it is Government of Guam property and if it needs to be registered later on, it's already surveyed but if it needs to be registered, with Dept. of Land Management, but we're not going to stop burying people because we dont have space on the original footprint," he said.

Sablan says those with the State Historic Preservation Office were at the area recently making assessments  to ensure there were no historical artifacts or findings. He added, "Yes, we are going to use it and use the adjacent facility nxt to the existing one now."

He adds to extend the use of Tiguac, there are plans to place crypts on the land, noting, "We are going to try and resurrect  it and present it to the legislature and see if they can come up with some kind of appropriation to do just that. the stretch of life will be longer than 10, 15 years."

The Legislative Committee on Rules is scheduled to meet July 16 to set the session agenda; we should note Bill 49 is not listed.