CEBU, Philippines — A 100-meter underwater cross will soon rise in Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City.
Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said the construction of the underwater cross in Barangay Tingo in Olango Island has begun a week ago.
The project which will be made of broken corals is expected to be completed in two months.
“This will be another dive attraction in the city and we will submit this to the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest underwater cross in the world,” the mayor told The FREEMAN.
Chan said that a group of divers in the city has approached him that it is about time for the city to have another diving spot.
He added the city currently has 25 diving spots with different attraction.
“Kaning underwater cross mahimo na unya ning ika 26 diving spot sa siyudad. Walay corals nga maguba sa atong palibot kay ang gamiton sa cross ani kay kadtong mang mga broken corals na which is naa tay daghan ana,” Chan said.
The city only spent for the scrap metals used as a foundation in the making of the cross.
Chan added the construction of the cross is timely since the Catholic faithful is celebrating 500 years of Christianity in the country.
“Magdala kini og dakong dungog sa atong syudad ug maila kita sa tibuok kalibutan. Sa samang higayon, makatabang pod kini nga maka-agni og daghan pang foreign tourists hilabi na nga giila kita nga usa sa mga best diving sites in Asia. Mas daghang turista, mas daghan kitag mahatag nga panginabuhian sa atong mga kaigsuonan,” Chan said in his Facebook post.
The mayor added that this underwater cross is also part of the Balik Turismo site of the city that aims to slowly reopen the city’s tourism industry which is considered as its “bread and butter”. /GAN (FREEMAN)