Rama bucks Customs’ request to use site

Cebu City Mayor Michael said he  wants to preserve Malacañang sa Sugbo for its tourism and heritage  value.

He said he would write to President Aquino to oppose the request of  Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon to reaquire the former Custms house for use as the  Cebu District Office of the Bureau of Customs.

“It has always been my position and that of the former mayor to keep the building. If it’s not used as  the official residence of the president, we want this as a center for culture and the arts,” said Rama.

Rama said the Cebu Coast Guard also wants the building preserved as the wide harbor at the back is an ideal docking area for cruise ships visiting Cebu.

The mayor said he plans to build a  skywalk to provide pedestrian access from the  Compania Maritima building to the boardwalk  near Malacañang sa Sugbu, which  would  complement a  waterfront development program.

Rama said the skywalk would also give people access to the nearby Fort San Pedro and Plaza Independencia.

Biazon earlier asked the President to let Customs officials use the  building after their current building at the Cebu Port area was  damaged during the Feb. 6 earthquake and was no longer safe to use.

The Bureau of Customs used to occupy the post-war building but had to relocate when it was converted to Malacañang sa Sugbu by ex-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004. /Chief Of Reporters Doris Bongcac