Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Make them wear Cebuano costume?
AN OFFICER of a group of travel agencies is asking Cebu City Hall to deal with the beggars near the Magellan’s Cross in a positive way.
Robert Lim Joseph, president of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, urged City Hall officials to deal with this problem by “thinking out of the box” and by converting this negative image into positive things.
He cited as an example the wearing of original Cebuano costumes by some of the beggars and the putting up of a “caruaje” (horse-drawn carriage) in the area.
Tourists who want to take photos will be asked to put some coins in a basket, as what is being done in other countries. “Even alms-giving can be given dignity,” Joseph said.
Cleaning, beautifying and lighting the streets, as well as clearing them of squatters and ambulant vendors, are among the main the concerns of the City Government as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit draws near.
Local officials, however, admitted that these tasks are not as easy as they seem.
City Hall Information Officer Nagiel Bañacia, during the 888 News Forum at the Parklane Hotel yesterday, said he is challenging the public to cooperate in Cebu’s cleanliness and beautification drive, saying that government can only do so much.
Owners of 89 structures on the sidewalks and portions of the road in Pier 6 at the North Reclamation Area and Palma St. are set to voluntarily dismantle their homes and relocate next month.
Edmund del Puerto, land tenure section head of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, said a one-hectare lot in Sitio Tac-an, Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City has been identified as the relocation site for the 42 informal settlers on Palma St.
Each family will be allocated a 54-square-meter lot, for which they will be paying P500 to P700 monthly for a period of 10 years.
They will also be granted a loan assistance of P25,000, which they can use to build their houses.
As for the 47 households in Pier 6, del Puerto said most of them preferred to receive the “balik probinsiya” financial aid, amounting to P5,000 for each family.
Del Puerto said they have already cleared McArthur Highway and S. Osmeña Blvd. of illegal structures and occupants.
Dr. Ado Macaraya of the Cebu City Parks and Playgrounds Commission said the beautification of center islands, which fall within the ceremonial route, is now 75 percent complete.
They expect to meet the Oct. 15 deadline given by City Hall.
The Department of Public Services is also busy cleaning, repainting and installing lights along Cebu City’s main thoroughfares, particularly Osmeña Blvd., Salinas Drive and Mango Ave, said Engr. Dionisio Gualiza.
Therese Gonzalez, chairperson of the Parks and Playgrounds Commission, said they have been tasked to spruce up Fuente Osmeña and the center islands along Juan Luna Ave., Osmeña Blvd., Jones Ave., McArthur Blvd. and N. Bacalso Ave.
Joseph expressed concern over littering on the streets and the presence of mendicants, especially within the vicinity of the Magellan’s Cross.
Gonzalez agreed that something has to be done about the vendors there.
Bañacia said he met with the vendors last Friday and explained to them the need for them to leave the area.
“We have different concerns. Ours is to clean up, yours is livelihood. These will never meet. But the policy of the mayor is there should always be a compromise,” said Bañacia.
It was agreed at the meeting that the vendors will look for a possible relocation site within the vicinity.
They will propose to City Hall a design for their stalls, subject to the mayor’s approval. (ROV)
