Cebu park to get P13-M facelift

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

CEBU CITY – On its 100th anniversary, the Fuente Osmeña circle in Cebu City will undergo a P13-million facelift and rehabilitation.

The work will be at no cost to the City Government, as expenses will be shouldered by M. Lhuillier, which also puts up a huge Christmas tree in the park every year.

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Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama appealed to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to help the City in preserving Fuente Osmeña, despite the pending case on the park’s ownership.

“It (preservation) has to be cooperated upon. Tabangan nato ang Fuente kay no matter what, it has been part of us and our history. It should be helped by all,” he said.

Rama, however, said he will not ask Governor Garcia to withdraw the case.

The Provincial Government claimed ownership of Fuente Osmeña in 2007 and demanded that the City turn over its administration to Capitol.

Then mayor now Representative Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) ignored Capitol’s demand, prompting Capitol to file a civil case against the City Government.

Fuente Osmeña’s 100th year was celebrated Sunday, and one of the highlights was the groundbreaking ceremony for its P13-million rehabilitation.

But just as it does whenever it puts up the giant Christmas tree, the company can put up promotional materials at Fuente Osmeña, the mayor said.

In a statement, City officials admitted the need to rehabilitate Fuente Osmeña, as it has “fallen into general disuse.”

It is no longer being used as urban park and is not “a functional, safe, and inviting public space.”

Based on the plan made by the College of Architecture of the University of San Carlos, speed regulating humps will be installed around Fuente Osmeña circle to slow down vehicles.

This way, pedestrians may easily cross the street going to the park.

Also, Fuente Osmeña will be paved. Its sparse grass cover easily gets crushed during large events.

Ample lighting will also be provided all around the circle to give the park a “safer” and “livelier” environment.

Light beams arranged below the Fuente Osmeña fountain will form a diamond, symbolizing the 75th Charter Day celebration of the city.

The Fuente Osmeña circle was built on February 13, 1912. Its fountain commemorates the building of the Buhisan Dam.

The celebration of Buhisan Dam’s 100th year was marked with the unveiling of a marker and a ceremony commemorating the inauguration of Cebu’s waterworks system.

In the first decade of the 20th century, said Dr. Erlinda Alburo, commissioner of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, a series of cholera epidemics, typhoons and fires called for a potable and sufficient water supply.

It was then that Cebu Municipal Board, under Mayor Vicente Teves, filed a petition to reserve land for the watershed and reservoir in Buhisan. This was approved in October 1909.

A few months later, Alburo said, the board authorized the issuance of municipal bonds to pay for the loan for the waterworks construction, and in the same resolution, named the waterworks after Don Sergio Osmeña Sr.

His name was also given to Fuente Osmeña, which marked the completion of the project. (PDF of Sun.Star Cebu)