A CEBU City Hall official has drafted an ordinance to designate the downtown area into a heritage district to preserve and protect its historical landmarks.
Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia also bats for the creation of Cebu City Heritage District Council.
Garcia, author of the proposed ordinance, said they do not want a busy terminal in the heritage district, referring to v-hire transport terminal on Junquera Street, Barangay Kamagayan that was ordered closed by the Cebu City Transportation Office on Friday, April 28, for being “unaccredited.”
"In line with this, we don't like any more terminals in our heritage district because it will congest even more," Garcia said.
Garcia added that they will move "very busy" businesses out of the downtown area as part of the development.
The proposed heritage district will cover the intersection of V. Rama Avenue and N. Bacalso Avenue, proceeding to P. Del Rosario Street, then to Imus Street, and to the intersection of General Maxilom Avenue and Tejero Creek until the Cebu Port Authority in Pier 6.
From Pier 6, it will continue toward the shorelines of Barangay Sto. Niño and Quezon Boulevard.
It will also cover Abellana Street and the intersections of Gen. Gines Street, R. Magsaysay Street and JM Basa Street, before returning to the starting point of V. Rama-N. Bacalso intersection.
The heritage district council will be headed by the city mayor or vice mayor, with two Cebu City councilors who will represent as vice chairpersons for the Committee on Tourism, Culture and the Arts and a private sector representative to be appointed by the mayor.
It will include rules for heritage development and conservation, cultural landscapes and public spaces, heritage interpretation programs, and heritage buildings and landmarks. (EKV)