CEBU CITY TO HELP REBUILD
MARIKINA CITY DAY CARE CENTER
CEBU, OCTOBER 5, 2009
(STAR) THE FREEMAN - Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña is scheduled to
visit Marikina City today to inspect a day care center that was badly damaged by
“Ondoy.”
In an interview with The Freeman yesterday, Osmeña said that with the influx of donations for the victims of “Ondoy,” Cebu City will no longer be sending goods or cash to Manila, but instead will help reconstruct a day care center in Marikina.
Cebu City and Marikina are both members of the Big Brother program.
Marikina Mayor Maridess Fernando said earlier she would want the day care center to be reconstructed into a three-storey building so that its upper floors would not be badly affected in the event of another storm.
Marikina City is among the worst hit areas in Luzon the other week by typhoon Ondoy with 80 percent of its streets submerged in rainwater.
“Of course we give clothes but we don’t even know who’s wearing them…or noodles, wala ta kahibalo kinsa natagaan, so might as well help this daycare center,” Osmeña said.
“There is more money coming in and out for Ondoy and I want the Cebuanos to see something tangible. So we don’t just give financial assistance…of course it is still cash but it is for something concrete,” Osmeña added.
In the past, the city has given financial assistance to several local government units that were badly devastated by typhoon.
Osmeña, who went on leave in September for a routine check up at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas, extended his leave to give way for the investigation of his son Miguel over an alleged harassment controversy.
The police closed the investigation last week following non-cooperation from the supposed victim.
Still, Osmeña pushed through the extension of his leave, which raised speculations from the opposition that his absence has something to do with his health.
He was diagnosed with cancer of the urinary bladder late last year and underwent surgery and chemotherapy at MD Anderson this April. He came home last May after doctors pronounced him cancer free. – Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)
Cebu City Hall orders clearing of sidewalks of obstacles (The Freeman) Updated October 05, 2009 12:00 AM
[PHOTO
AT LEFT - The Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division now has a
month to clear all city roads and sidewalks of all obstacles, sidewalk vendors
included. Reynan Villena | CEBU, Philippines]
CEBU CITY - The Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division has been ordered by City Hall to clear all city roads and sidewalks of all obstacles, including sidewalk vendors, and have been given one month to complete the task.
Vicente Mercado, head of SPEED or the demolition team of City Hall, said starting this morning they will conduct intensified clearing operations, specifically in Colon Street and other areas of the city that are subject of numerous complaints from the pedestrians.
This move is in response to numerous complaints from pedestrians about the encroachment of sidewalks by vendors and other structures.
Acting Mayor Michael Rama, however pointed out to Mercado that this move is not meant to totally prohibit vending on the sidewalks as those who do not hamper the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic will not be affected.
Rama told The Freeman yesterday that “Kami sa City Hall dili g’yod gusto nga mawad-an og panginabuhian mga sidewalk vendors gawas lang kon gikinahanglan na g’yod kaayo nga kuhaon sila.”
The acting mayor said one example is that the city government will not tolerate the sidewalk vendors operating in places where they will hamper the speedy response of emergency vehicles.
SPEED personnel already advised the vendors operating within the entrance of the South Road Properties (SRP) at D. Jakosalem Street to clear the area to make it easy for the huge trucks to pass through.
The city plans to impose a policy allowing sidewalk vendors only on one side of the road in certain areas.
Rama is planning to grant scholarships to children of sidewalk vendors or to help the concerned vendors look for another job.
There are thousands of sidewalk vendors throughout Cebu City and most of them are members of the Cebu City United Vendors Association (CCUVA) headed by Maria Pino-Buanghug, a political supporter of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
Many of the sidewalk vendors in Cebu City are Muslims and some SPEED members are hesitant to go against them thinking that Osmeña was their acknowledged Sultan in Cebu.
Mercado said if he will be given a free hand to clear the sidewalks of any obstacles, he is confident that he can deliver his job well, although he was so dismayed in the past because some City Hall officials usually gave in to the vendors’ request every time they will be subjected to a clearing operation. – Rene U. Borromeo/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)