Cebu City to pay for security, bills

Until arrangements are finalized with the Cebu Archdiocese, the Cebu City goernment is willing to secure the templete used in the Nov. 30  Thanksgiving Mass at the South Road Properties to prevent any acts of vandalism.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the city will provide security and pay for the lights there.

Rama, who  visited the pyramid-styled templete last Sunday or two days after the national event, said he noticed the altar’s storage area at the back was unlocked.

Rama said he had to call in policemen and SRP security personnel to make sure  the templete wouldn’t t be vandalized.

“What I’m more worried about is the thought of having the picture of San Pedro Calungsod being vandalized,” he said, referring to a large tarpaulin portrait of the teenage saint hanging in the center of the structure.

The mayor said he’s also worried about the loss of items like lighting materials and steel plates from the templete’s storage area.

Over the weekend,   the area was still alive with local families and tourists who flocked to the templete for sightseeing and taking souvenir photos.

The mayor said  a formal agreement is needed for the supervision and management of the templete because it’s unclear who’s in charge of preserving the structure built by the  Cebu Archdiocese on 700 square meters of a 27-hectare lot owned by the city government.

Landmark

Discussions will be revived in the Cebu City Council on Councilor Edgar Labella’s proposal to  declare the templete site a historical landmark.

Mayor Rama said he wanted to consult with the Cebu Investment Promotions Center, the marketing arm of the  300-hecatre SRP  “because I want to have a  macro approach of the whole area” before issuing his  stand on the matter.

He said it would be deal if a prospective land  buyer would agree to keep the structure. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac