Rama says Fuente plan is a work in progress

Plans will be drawn up and consultations will be made concerning Fuente Rotunda’s development, Mayor Michael Rama said.

In an interview, the mayor said he will meet with drivers and operators as well as businessmen affected by the changes that he wants to implement.

He will also conduct a public hearing. “Rest assured its implementation is not going to be tomorrow,” he said.

Rama said he only wants to widen the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda and regulate vehicles passing by.

He clarified that he doesn’t intend to make the park and fountain look like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Rama ordered the Parks and Playgrounds Commission and the City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom) to study a plan to widen the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda and regulate vehicles using the rotunda.

Rama said it isn’t necessary to convert Fuente Osmeña into a park . He said he only wants to get rid of the skating rink to widen the rotunda for a bigger walkway.

The mayor also ordered the Citom to find alternative routes for PUJs to keep them from passing the rotunda.

A proposed route is to divert vehicles from the Capitol area heading to the downtown area to the Larsian road near Chong Hua Hospital then to B. Rodriguez Street, then to Osmeña Boulevard.

Another option is to make a left turn to J. Llorente Street, to Juana Osmena Road, to Mango Avenue, to F. Ramos Street then to downtown Cebu City.

Other changes that he wants to implement are the prohibition of diagonal parking around the area and the removal of the center island of Osmeña Boulevard.

The mayor said the islands are only for wide roads. When everything is in place, Rama said he will present his plans to the provincial government. Doris c. Bongcac , Chief of Reporters