‘Beautiful’ Osmeña Blvd. ready for Christmas

AN Osmeña Boulevard with Spanish-era brick sidewalks and colonial lamps will be finished in time for the Christmas holidays, said Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung.

The chairperson of the Beautiful Cebu Movement Foundation Inc. said a revitalized Osmeña Boulevard is the group’s Christmas gift to the Cebuanos.

“This is also done in honor of Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. who became president of the Philippines,” she said.

Of the target P55-million budget, Yeung said the foundation needs to raise about P20 million more.

In yesterday’s press conference, members announced their lineup of fund-raising activities for August and October.

“The fund-raising (activities) will complement the tourism activities here in August. We wanted to take advantage of the presence of dignitaries and other guests who are coming into the city,” said Janice Minor, head of the foundation’s fund-raising committee.

Since Cebu will host the One Cebu activities next month, they wanted to sponsor a “Domingo sa Sugbu” event at the Fuente Osmeña circle.

The event may include trade fair and entertainment activities, Minor said.

On Oct. 14, the foundation will hold a “Dance for a Beautiful Cebu,” a social event that would involve their donors and would-be donors, said Minor.

“The activities that we are having has nothing to do with politics. It’s not about the leaders but who will benefit from these projects,” said Yeung.

She also asked reporters during the press conference to “refrain from talking about politics.”

Mayor Michael Rama said he is grateful for the Beautiful Cebu Foundation’s help in addressing Osmeña Boulevard problems.

“Do not look at me to solve all the problems (of the city). Look at yourselves and what you can do,” he said.

Yeung said the provincial government and nine Capitol contractors are now helping to complete the revitalization plans in a portion of Osmeña Boulevard from Escario Street to Fuente Osmeña.

The cost of ongoing work already consist of 40 percent of their P55-million budget estimate.

Yeung said owners of commercial establishments located from Fuente Osmeña circle to Sanciangko Street also pledged to spend for the revitalization works in their respective areas.

Work on their respective areas would start next month.

Yeung said with most of their expenses already covered, the foundation only needed to raise funds for areas without any sponsors.

As of yesterday, the Beautiful Cebu Foundation raised a total of P3.1 million and another $3,030.

They also have pledges from SM Prime Holdings chairman Henry Sy Jr. and PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan.

Yeung said their cash donations are kept in the Beautiful Cebu bank account.

Upon completion of the revitalization project, Rama said the Parks and Playgrounds Commission, the Department of Public Services (DPS) and the City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) would be tasked with the Osmeña Boulevard’s maintenance.

He said the beautification works would not necessarily lead to vendors displacement.

“We will always approach the issue with a balancing of interests,” he said.

Rama said he would also pursue under his administration the rehabilitation of the Carbon Market Center to bring vendors away from the streets and into a more conducive vending site.

The mayor said he is also in talks with Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia on the possibility of building a structure in a Capitol lot that would solely be assigned to sidewalk vendors.