Rama seeks Capitol support for rehab plans for Fuente fountain

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said he wants to talk with Capitol officials about rehabilitating the century-old Fuente Osmeña fountain.

“We will have to sit down again (but this time) with Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale on what her position is on this development,” Rama said.

Cebu City Hall and the Capitol are locked in a property ownership dispute over the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda.

Dr. Ado Macaraya, commissioner of the Parks and Playgrounds Commission, said cracks in the fountain should be fixed immediately to preserve the structure.

Until rehabilitation plans are carried out, he said the comission will have to restrict the use of the area.

Macaraya said this was one reason they decided not to use Fuente Osmena as the site of this year’s presentation of Miss Cebu candidates last January.

A P100,000 budget set aside for fountain rehabilitation and repairs remains unused, he said.

He said businessman Michel Lhuiller remains committed to fund the landscaping of the Fuente Osmeña circle estimated to cost P17 million. But no works can be done unless the circle’s ownership issue is resolved.

Suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia insisted in 2007 that the provincial government owned the property where the fountain was built 101 years ago. A civil suit was filed in court.

“With the new political situation (after Garcia) and with their thrust to work in unity with the City of Cebu we look forward to taking concrete steps and that will not be too soon,” Rama said.

Macaraya said the Lhuillers are paying for the blue guards who secure the Fuente Osmeña circle and the fountain’s lighting. Chief of Reporters Doris Bongcac