City seeks police assistance: Christmas decors stolen

CEBU, Philippines — Some Christmas decorations installed by the Cebu City government have been ripped and stolen even before they can be formally unveiled next month.

The decorations were put up as the city government envisions becoming a “Christmas City” where some of the skywalks, center islands, and major thoroughfares are adorned and lighted up with beautiful and creative ornaments.

For this purpose, an area along the Osmeña Boulevard had been ornamented with Christmas decors but the same have been “stolen” just a few days after being completed.

“There are structures na naka-install right now from Central Bank to Cocomall and additional 10 more going to Capitol area. But unluckily, gilaksi ug gikawat ang sa CNU area near Central Bank. Sus, grabe gibuhat, gi-cut gyud siya,” project director Bernard Ricablanca told The FREEMAN.

He said they had to replace the stolen decors.

Following the incident, Ricablanca is asking the Cebu City Police Office and force multipliers, as well as the city’s PROBE team, to help them secure the decorations.

Ricablanca is also asking the public to cooperate and not destroy these decorations that showcase the Christmas spirit, especially after a gloomy Christmas last year due to Typhoon Odette.

“We are also encouraging katong mga makakita nga mag-vandal sa mga tarps or mangguba or mangawat sa mga decorations nga i-report pud unta nila ang mga nagbinuang kay dili lalim to put up everything,” he said.

Most of the decorations and printed Christmas-theme tarpaulins/postcards are donated by some generous donors.

The project committee is also working double time with the PROBE team in decorating the center islands and some sidewalks with large Christmas postcards and photo cut-out boards for picture-taking.

Aside from that, some skywalks are also undergoing some Christmas-themed beautification, including the area near DOH-7 and another one on General Maxilom Avenue.

Ricablanca said a skywalk on N. Bacalso Avenue will also be adopted by the Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology while other skywalks are under negotiation.

Adopting a skywalk will not only be for the month of December but year-round. The company, school, or barangay adopting the skywalk will be tasked to decorate it depending on the occasion that the city government, through the Christmas City project committee, will be highlighting.

The project committee hopes no other untoward incident will happen so everything can be unveiled during the launch on December 1. – JMD (FREEMAN)