Below is the CDN story on the Osmena Blvd. restoration project to turn it into a Spanish-era road. The Osmena Blvd. was built during the American era. A source said the reporter had it wrong. I wonder who did. Will someone please clarify things.
Osmeña Blvd. facelift needs P50M
4/7/2011
By Doris C. Bongcac, Reporter
Imagine Osmeña Boulevard transformed into a Spanish-era walkway with brick sidewalks and colonial lamps.
But before this could be done, the Beautiful Cebu Foundation needs to raise at least P50 million in donations to fund the Osmeña Boulevard Revitalization Project.
“We have to tap everybody’s help because we only have one goal. We all love Cebu,” said Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, the foundation’s chairperson.
She presented the plans yesterday in a meeting at the social hall of Cebu City’s Legislative Building where they agreed to solicit support from business establishments along the main road.
Architect Tessie Javier said upgrading the 2.5-kilometer sidewalk would cost P20,000 per meter or about P50 million.
At present, Osmeña Boulevard has sidewalks that are three 3 meters to seven meters wide although the ideal span is is seven meters, she said.
“We will have a sidewalk with details reflective of Cebu’s heritage, something that would show what Cebu was like during the Spanish rule,” Javier said.
Also in the meeting were foundation vice chairperson Margie Lhuillier, lawyer Christina Garcia-Frasco, Javier, Bankers Club president Chito Cabaero, businessmen Bunny Pages and Efrain Pelaez and Ted Locson of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Yeung pledged to donate P1 million to the foundation while Pages pledged P100,000.
Yeung, a mutual friend of Mayor Michael Rama and Gov. Gwen Garcia, said the foundation would like donations from business entities to be tax deductible to encourage more participation.
“But the proposal is still subject to the approval of the mayor,” she said.
The foundation will launch its fund-raising activity and campaign to revitalize Osmeña Boulevard on May 2.
Although she’s a registered voter in Bogo City, Yeung owns a house in Cebu City where she operates her businesses and engages in philanthropic activities.
2 comments:
The boulevard was made by the americans and it is one of the fine example of american planning here in cebu. why turn it into a "apanish" era boulevard? it should be enhanced into an "american" era boulevard. acht. tessy javier just shows her ignorance of history and disregard of heritage. how irresponsible of her not to educate her client. for the local government to agree with the foundation is also proof of the total ignorance of people. i hope they reconsider.
Unfortunately, they are going ahead with the project. As a matter of fact, adobe-style sidewalk and vintage-style lamps that remind you of 19th century Europe are now in place.
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