Fuente Osmeña circle rehab gets green light

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government and the Cebu City government has momentarily set aside the issue of ownership of the Fuente Osmeña circle and agreed to cooperate in the facelifting and rehabilitation of one of the city’s historical landmarks.

Mayor Michael Rama and Governor Hilario Davide III agreed that the rehabilitation works should commence immediately in preparation for the Sinulog activities and international events like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in 2015 and the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.

“Junjun Davide has agreed nga trabahoon ug areglaron ang Fuente because it represents Cebu. It has to be addressed with the incoming huge events and di lang usa nato huna-hunaon ang kaso. What is important that Fuente will be enhanced, facelifted and beautified,” he said.

The work will be at no cost to the government because the expenses will be shelled out by M. Lhuillier. Rama has already given the latter a green light to proceed with the project.

The city government earlier signed a memorandum of agreement with Lhuillier for the P13 million rehabilitation project.

The rehabilitation of Fuente Osmeña circle has been stalled for years because of the opposition of the provincial government, which claims ownership to the property. In fact, the Capitol demanded in 2007 for the city government to turn over the property to the provincial government.

The rehabilitation was supposed to be done simultaneously with that of the Plaza Independencia and the construction of the senior citizens’ park across the executive building of the City Hall.

In a recent meeting with Lhuillier, City Parks and Playground Commission, and Department of Engineering and Public Works, Rama gave instruction to extend the height of the fence to prevent people from jumping over the structure during Sinulog events. 

Rama is meeting them again on Tuesday to further discuss the rehabilitation, including its fountain, which serves as a symbol of the first water pipe system in Cebu following the construction of the Buhisan dam.

Based on the plan made by the College of Architecture of the University of San Carlos, ample lights will be installed around the circle to give it a “safer” and “livelier” environment and pavement will be placed as grass gets easily crushed during large events.

Also, speed regulating humps will be installed around Fuente Osmeña circle to slow down vehicles. This way, pedestrians may easily cross the street going into the park.

The Fuente Osmeña circle was built on February 13, 1912. Its fountain commemorates the building of the Buhisan Dam.  (FREEMAN)