Rehab work on Fuente fountain to proceed, land row set aside

The planned rehabilitation of the Fuente Osmeña fountain can now push through after the Cebu provincial government gave yesterday Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama the authority to already start with the rehabilitation works.

Rama said all that needs to be done now is to amend the city’s existing contract with M. Lhuillier in order to implement the rehabilitation works under the private – public partnership (PPP) program.

“If their lawyers will not agree to amend the contract by next week, we can take steps and take over the project implementation so this can be handled by the city,” he said.

Rama said he wanted the rehabilitation works done the soonest possible time especially since the city has already completed the rehabilitation of the Plaza Independencia and the establishment of the senior citizens park across the executive building of City Hall.

M. Lhuillier entered an agreement with the city government to shoulder the P13 million expense for the rehabilitation of the Fuente Osmeña fountain. The rehabilitation was originally planned as part of the preparation for its 100th year anniversary on February 2012.

The ownership row between the Capitol and City Hall to the Fuente Osmeña lot however delayed the work.

Rama met with provincial planning officer Adolf Quiroga and two of M. Lhuillier’s legal counsels at his City Hall office yesterday morning to discuss the proposed fountain rehabilitation.

Quiroga represented Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale who was in Camotes Island.

During their meeting, Rama asked Quiroga on the Capitol’s position on the planned Fuente Osmeña fountain rehabilitation project.

“Okay ang province nga ipadayon ang pag ayo,” Rama quoted Quiroga as telling him during their meeting.

(The provincial government is okay with the rehabilitation work to proceed.)

But Rama said Capitol’s agreement to the fountain’s rehabilitation plans would not affect the merits of the pending lot recovery complaint which suspended Gov. Gwen Garcia filed earlier against the city government during the time of former mayor and now south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

“Let that continue legally. I did not want to touch on the legal matter (during our meeting) kay lahi na nga elemento.  What is important now is that we have to start on the rehab of that area,” he said.

Rama all that he wanted is to see the fountain rehabilitated and preserved.

However, he said, he wanted provisions included in the city’s contract with M. Lhuillier that the private firm will be spending for the rehabilitation works under the PPP.

He also wanted to make it clear that the donor would not be allowed to take advantage of their donation for commercial purposes. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters