Cabaero: Fuente park’s state

A READER once said the Fuente Osmeña circle, a strategically-located Cebu landmark, looked like a cemetery for the most part of the year and became alive only during Christmas and Sinulog.

The “cemetery” part could be a bit harsh but it is true the park becomes a destination for many on seasonal basis only, like Christmas and Cebu’s fiesta.

It took about 10 years to settle the question in court of who owns the Fuente Osmeña, a long period to keep the status quo that rendered the park with little or no improvement.

The Fuente Osmeña is an example of how keeping the status quo is not the best option. The park looked the same as 10 years ago. The fountain does not work most of the time, except during really special occasions like the Sinulog or when a private entity foots the bill. Even the Christmas lights every year during the previous administration’s term looked tired and recycled. Muddy pathways during the rainy season continue to be a challenge for park users.

The best years of Fuente Osmeña happened when the private sector came into the picture and funded the improvements. The giant Christmas tree by the M. Lhuillier Group of Companies is the once-a-year reason to visit Fuente Osmeña. In the 1970s, the musical fountain, with water that swayed to the beat, was built by a local Lions Club. A Lions Club center was located in the Fuente area, across the park, as a venue for social activities for club members, their families, and the public.

The ownership question was finally settled last week when the Regional Trial Court upheld the Cebu City Government’s claim over the Fuente Osmeña circle. The case was initiated by the Cebu Provincial Government when it filed a complaint to recover the park. But the court order said the Province failed to defend its position based on laws on public park ownership.

Then governor Gwen Garcia started the question on the park’s ownership and, in 2007, ordered the closure of the road where the Larsian barbecue place was located. The road was reopened in 2011 when Michael Rama was then Cebu City mayor.

After the court’s recent decision, Provincial Legal Office head Orvi Ortega filed an appeal citing lapses in the ruling. The appeal came after former congressman Pablo Garcia, also a three-term Cebu governor, said the Province should not easily give up the property. Garcia said not filing an appeal could mean dereliction of duty. Gov. Hilario Davide III allowed the appeal but reportedly kept to his position that the Fuente park was owned by all Cebuanos.

With the Provincial Government’s line that the park belonged to the people, the best way to let this work is to have the people, through civic organizations, help undertake projects for Fuente Osmeña.

Cebu civic clubs such as the Lions, Rotary, Jaycees and Kiwanis number about 50 and they can be tapped to undertake the beautification of Fuente Osmeña as their common project. It would be their monument to their relevance to the community.

For the local government unit who is declared owner of Fuente Osmeña, do something now to break the status quo.

(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)

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