Senior Citizens Park opens

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) has formally opened the Senior Citizens Park along M.C. Briones Street in front of City Hall.

The park, covering 3,033 square meters, faces the ocean and stands on the same area where an old warehouse once stood.

That warehouse was condemned because of its weak structural integrity and demolished in May upon the request of the city government to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources which owns the building.

DENR had also agreed to its conversion into a park.

The park’s design was inspired by the Fuente Osmeña Circle in Osmeña Boulevard. The construction of a fountain at the center is underway.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said the park dedicated to senior citizens is almost complete.

He proudly announced that it was a product of a private-public partnership.

“Aside from the labor cost, the city did not spend anything else on it,” Poblete said.

He said several private sectors have helped in the construction of the park starting from the demolition of the old building to pave the way for the project.

The park was first estimated to cost over P600,000 but many private persons had decided to help build it. Even the lighting, which is yet to be installed, will be shouldered by a private person.

Poblete said public comfort rooms for senior citizens will also be built in one corner for the comfort of the elderly.

The guidelines for the use of the park are yet to be discussed. Poblete said the park will be under the management of the Parks and Playground Commission.

“Finally there is an open space exclusively dedicated for them. Kung unsa ilang kalihukan or kalingawan, magamit nila ang park as a venue,” Poblete said.

Yesterday marked the opening of the Senior Citizens Month, a month-long activity this October to celebrate the importance of senior citizens in nation building.

Activities have been lined up for the month-long celebration including tree planting on October 13 in Pulangbato, senior citizens health and fun day medical mission on October 20, senior citizens congress and culminating activity on October 27 and the Oplan Pilit in public utility jeepneys, malls and establishments throughout the month of October. (FREEMAN)