Capitol to pick design for Cordova floating cottages

CEBU, Philippines —  After the demolition of the floating and fixed cottages in coastal water off Cordova, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced that the Capitol is planning to hold a competition for the design of the floating cottages in the said town.

Yesterday, Garcia met Cordova Mayor Cesar Suan and the other officials, as well as designer Kenneth Cobonpue and Architect Buck Sia, to discuss the development of the guidelines for the design competition.

“I am going to form this group that will lay down the guidelines because we are going to launch a competition for the design and total masterplan of the 33 hectares of fixed and floating cottages that will now have effective and functioning water and solid waste management,” Garcia told members of the media yesterday.

“Kadtong modaug mao to atong i-implement para uniform plus it will be very well designed and of course it will address the environmental issue,” the governor added.

In August this year, Garcia ordered the demolition of these floating and fixed cottages after it was reported that these structures contributed to high levels of coliform bacteria in the coastal waters off Cordova which is not safe already.

Garcia said in rehabilitating the area which has a potential of becoming a tourism attraction in the town, the process should start “in a blank page how to proceed.”

“We cannot just come up with a design nga walay inputs from the experts sa environment, even you know...If you look at the Maldives, tan-awon nimo ng Bahamas, nganong makahimo man sila ana? Pero naa silay waste water treatment and solid waste treatment, so how to do it, let’s start with Cordova,” Garcia said.

The governor did not divulge the prizes in the competition but assured that there will be a big prize for the winner. — GMR (FREEMAN)