Thursday, December 14, 2006 Imported flowers ‘won’t bloom in time for new summit sked’
WITH less than a month left before the Asean summit, the Cebu City Agriculture’s Office decided to replace the imported flowers at the center islands with local varieties.
Colorful flowers and the lanterns and tartanillas on the center islands will add to the festival theme during the summit, which will be held days before the Sinulog.
City Agriculturist Joey Baclayon admitted that some of the potted flowering plants have gone to waste since they already wilted even before the summit could start.
Expected to wither
Most of the flowers were already in full bloom in time for the postponed summit this week, he said, but they are expected to wither before the new summit schedule.
According to records of the Cebu City Task Force Asean, the City Government spent some P2.7 million for the beautification of the center islands, including the potted flowering plants.
Task force head Nagiel Banacia said they will no longer spend for additional flowers and décor since local varieties of flowers are already available at the city nursery.
As for the decors, the ones put up for the original dates of the summit will remain where they are, he said.
Since it will take at least 45 days to plant the seedlings and to wait until the flowers are in full bloom, Baclayon said they will just have to use local varieties of flowers for the center islands.
“We decided to replace the previously planted imported flowers with local ones. Mahug na nausik na gyud to ang daan but unfortunately, we can’t do anything about it because those varieties have a short life span,” he said in a phone interview.
But in a separate interview, Parks and Playgrounds Commission chairman Therese Gonzalez said the imported marigolds will not be a total waste since its seedlings can still be planted to generate new flowers.
Buntings
However, the flowers will not bloom in time for the summit, tentatively scheduled on Jan. 8 to 13.
Instead of the marigolds, local varieties of comintans and bougainvilleas will be planted on the center islands along the ceremonial routes.
Gonzalez said the colorful flowers will complement the festival-themed décor in the city during the summit.
“Aside from the flowers, the bancas, the tartanillas and lanterns will remain in the center islands because they’re very festive. We will have more of the buntings during the summit, like the ones displayed during the Sinulog, because we want to have that festive atmosphere,” she said.
The commission is just waiting for the definite dates of the summit before they finalize the decors. (LCR)
