Cracks in Fuente Osmeña, Heritage Monument alarming

THE Cebu City Engineering Office was asked to check on cracks found in two landmarks—the Fuente Osmeña fountain and the Cebu Heritage Monument in barangay Parian.

Dr. Librando Macaraya, chairman of the Parks and Playgrounds Commission, and Councilor Nida Cabrera expressed alarmed that the cracks may affect the integrity of the structures.

“To prevent any untoward incident from happening in the future, their structural integrity needs to be assessed,” said both officials in their Sept. 14 letter to City Engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez.

The Cebu City Council was given a copy of the letter.

Councilor Margot Osmeña said during the Sept. 21 council session that the inspection by the engineering department should be done as soon as possible.

The fountain is an important structure in the Buhisan Dam centennial celebration, which will be held in February 2012.

The 100-year-old Buhisan Dam is a source of about 5 percent of the supply of the Metro Cebu Water District.

Officials of MCWD, which used to be known as the Osmeña Waterworks, inaugurated the Buhisan Dam by opening the fountain.

A water pipe from the dam connects to the Fuente Osmeña fountain.

“We will be celebrating a significant milestone next year,” said Osmeña.

The Osmeña Waterworks was established during the term of Sergio Osmeña, grandfather of Rep. Tomas Osmeña, Margot’s husband.  Chief of reporters Doris C. Bongcac