City steps up efforts for ASEAN Summit

Preparations for the holding of the 2006 ASEAN Summit this December have stepped up in Cebu City with funds for beautification projects already proposed this early.

One of these projects is the proposed landscaping of a miniature hill in Kawit Park, with close to P700,000 fund already been raised at the city council.

Councilors Nestor Archival, Arsenio Pacaña and Gabriel Leyson had proposed a joint resolution asking for P695,093 to cover the project's cost for labor, plants and other materials.

The Parks and Playgrounds Commission will undertake the project that will form part of the Kawit Park Development, and to beautify the city for tourism and events, with the ASEAN Summit among them.

Cebu City together with Cebu Province and the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are the hosts of the ASEAN Summit, each of which has undertaken its own set of preparations.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said that more road repairs, streetlights installations and repainting of public structures will be done in preparation for the ASEAN Summit, adding that he already created a "cosmetic team that will take charge" of these projects.

The city will also establish an entertainment center for foreign journalists who will cover the event.

In last Wednesday's session, city's Department of Public Services new head Dionisio Gualiza told the council that one of his priorities is the beautification in the city, especially thoroughfares.

Gualiza also suggested to the council for an ordinance banning the setting up clotheslines at the front areas of houses, or placing banners and streamers on facades of houses.

"These are some of the plans I want to implement as newly appointed head of the DPS," Gualiza said. - Garry B. Lao