News briefs

Park project to continue: Rama

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said he will pursue his plans to convert the old Pasil fish market into a park despite the City Council’s deferral of  P25 million he included in Supplemental Budget no. 2 for it. .

The council omitted this item saying the appropriation should be included in the 2012 budget instead  due to lack of a fund source.

The mayor said  a children’s park used to occupy the fish port lot, and he intends to restore it.

“I have been talking of the project since 2002,” said Rama, who added that Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young’s proposal to convert the old fish market into a school building was  thought of only recently.

Rama said if Young really wanted a school for Pasil, a school building may be built in a city-owned lot near the barangay gym.

However, the vice mayor said this  city lot is already occupied by urban poor families.

Young insisted that converting the fish market  into a school building was a  “better idea,” more practical and less costly. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Church-labor dialogue

A NATIONWIDE conference between church representatives and labor  led by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and labor groups will be held in Cebu City today.

Gary Martinez, spokesperson of the Church People-Workers Solidarity (CPWS), said the national conference will provide a venue for labor groups  nationwide to ventilate their concerns.

“In our current situation, profit is given more importance than human dignity,” Martinez told reporters.

Among the issues to be discussed is the current situation of the transport sector, factory workers and the Overseas Filipino Workers.

Wage increases, the labor row at Philippine Airlines and other worker’s incentives would also be discussed.

Aside from Palma,  Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo and other Church leaders are expected to attend the event.

Martinez said the issues and concerns raised during the conference will be relayed to companies and enterprises. Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya