News Briefs

PASIL SCHOOL OR PARK?

“A SCHOOL is more important than a park.”

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young gave this statement to justify the City Council’s plan to convert the Pasil Fish Market into a school instead of pursuing Mayor Michael Rama’s plan to convert it into a public park.

Rama is asking P25 million for the project, which is included in the proposed Supplemental Budget 2.

“Two years ago, there was already a plan to convert the old market into a school  for high school and college students,” he said.

Young said the planned conversion of the old market into a school building was delayed because of the need to relocate the vendors first and vacate the market.

Councilor Margot Osmeña said that it would be impractical to demolish the existing market structure which remains a strong foundation and could still be used.

“And the mayor would again ask P10 million (which he included in SB2) to build a new market (on another site)?” Osmeña asked. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

SUPPORT FOR MARCOS BURIAL

THE League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) Cebu Chapter dropped for now their plan to file a resolution supporting the burial of the late president Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

LMP Cebu Chapter President and Dumanjug town Mayor Nelson Garcia told Cebu Daily News that the mayors decided that their support “will remain a personal opinion” for them.

“It was a long time ago but majority of them are in favor. The mayors will still have to consult their constituents,” he said. Last April, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos visited the Capitol to sign a sister-province agreement with Cebu.

Last July, it was Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s turn to sign the agreement during a five-day stay in Ilocos Norte.  Last August 15, the Provincial Board (PB) passed in mass motion the resolution supporting a hero’s burial for Marcos.

In a  resolution, the PB cited that Marcos should be given a ceremony fit for a soldier and former president of the Philippines because he had served the country as a bemedaled soldier during World War II and as president./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

WATER EXTRACTION CONCERN

WANTING to regulate the use of its groundwater, the Cebu City Council is asking the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to always consult with them prior to the issuance of water permits to private applicants.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said unregulated extraction may especially affect the operations of the city-run Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) which services water to Metro Cebu residents.

“We have to state our position on the extraction of groundwater.  What is the policy of the city on this?” said councilor Jose Daluz III.

The council’s move came after lawyer Elenito Bagalihog, head of the water rights division of the NWRB, wrote the council on Aug. 3 to request for posting in its bulleting board a copy of the application of Palmera Land Inc. for a permit to extract surface/ground water from sitio Maragas in barangay Lahug.

Young said private water extraction may affect MCWD operations since the water district also operates some water wells in the area./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac