Capitol claim delays Fuente rehab

PLAN to facelift the century-old Fuente Osmeña has been put on hold for the past three months.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia does not approve of the P13 million rehabilitation project because of a pending civil case on the Capitol’s ownership claim over the landmark filed in 2007.

“I’m still hoping that the project will proceed but I do not want to preempt the governor.  It is now the call of the Lhuilliers (to convince Garcia) on the need for the rehabilitation project to proceed,” said Rama.

Rama, who earlier declared his support for Garcia’s bid to run for the Senate,  said he plans to take up the matter with  her and solicit the help of businesswoman Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, head of the Beautiful Cebu movement who is a mutual friend.

“I want everything to gel. Gwapo na kaayo ang atong sidewalk unya bati ang atong Fuente Osmeña circle (Our sidewalk already looks good but the Fuente Osmeña circle looks drab),” the mayor said.

The city government earlier signed a Memorandum of Agreement with businessman Michel Lhuillier for the P13 million Fuente Osmeña  rehabilitation project.

City officials led by Rama and Lhuillier already broke ground on Feb. 14 for the project.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in time with the Fuente Osmeña fountain’s 100th year.

Mayor Rama expressed confidence that the Lhuilliers would not withdraw the P13 million allocation for the rehabilitation project until this is implemented.

Rama said he is hopeful that Garcia would not turn down a project that would benefit Cebu.

“I know the governor will see things objectively, ” he said.

The mayor said even with the 2013 election just a year away should not keep them from working on the implementation of the Fuente Osmeña circle rehabilitation project.