Soldiers to help beautify boulevard

The Central Command (Centcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday pledged their support for the  Beautify Cebu  Project of Cebu City and the Beautiful Cebu Movement Inc.

Lt. General Ralph Villanueva, Centcom commander and Col. Ronald Albano, chief of staff,  joined the ground breaking for sidewalk pavements near the Central Bank of the Philippines and Club Ultima along Osmeña Boulevard.

“We want to take a spot where we could develop and maintain in any part of the Osmeña Boulevard,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, Centcom public information officer.

“We want to convey to Mayor (Michael) Rama that we are supporting his beautification project.”

Villanueva told Rama and Beautiful Cebu Movement members headed by  Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung that Centcom would  provide manpower for the project.
Rama   welcomed the development.

“I’m so glad that they came in and offered manpower to the project,” the mayor said.

Architect Tessie Javier said Club Ultima owner Richard King also expressed support for the project.

“He said he will take care of the area where his establishment is located and will also help the sidewalk across it,” Javier told Cebu Daily News.

Land Bank of the Philippines and Metrobank also pledged to support the project.

Javier said this means they only have to find sponsors for areas that won’t be taken care of by any establishment.

“We are still raising funds for those areas,” she said.

Phase 2 of the beautification project differs from the Phase 1, which starts from the provincial Capitol to the Fuente Osmeña circle.

“In Phase 1, we tried to get rid of the lampposts at the center island to expose the Capitol building and transfer the posts to the sides. Capitol building is a heritage building and so we are trying to give it a full view,” Javier said.

“But in the Phase 2, the lampposts stays in the middle since from Sanciangko Street, the Capitol view is blocked by skywalks anyway plus there’s the Fuente Osmeña.”

In Phase 2, there will be no plant boxes along the road.

Work on Fuente Osmeña to Sanciangko Street will commence on Sept. 9.

Sidewalk improvement, according to the site plan, includes washout pebbles, cement bricks, carabao grass, trees and lampposts.

Yeung announced last month that at least P5 million has been raised so far to finance the beautification project.