Osmeña says crowd at SRP launching is a positive sign

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña sees a positive sign for the future of the South Road Properties from the over 80,000 people who witnessed the SRP launching last Saturday night.

“My assessment of it (SRP launching) was it’s better than I expected. Actually, the political significance of that exercise was, you just let people see what it’s like. Those who saw it for the first time were in the level of wow! They did not expect it to be like that,” Osmeña said, while still could not believe that the activity has created a traffic jam due to the heavy crowd.

He said that the launching or the whole concept of the Cebu Summer festival as a whole deserves to be continued and be made into an annual event.

An activity committee or a specialized group that will take charge of the calendar of activities for the SRP may be created.

The mayor said this will also be an opportunity for the Cebu Investments and Promotions Center (CIPC) to take it as one of its marketing strategies.

According to him, the crowd that showed up last Saturday proves there can be a desirable pedestrian traffic at the SRP that would attract more investors to buy lot or lease from the city government.

It is also seen to increase the value of the SRP lot for the next three years.

“The marketing aim of the CIPC for the SRP is more on the real estate project. The SRP launching was a real test on the reaction of the crowd. Commercial estate value has a direct relationship to pedestrian traffic because investors would always ask where are the people,” Osmeña said. 

“A lot of people are asking if they can continue to visit there, those playing football and baseball, they asked if they can continue to play there, this is a good sign,” he added.

Osmeña said that there are more developments to happen at the SRP within 12 months once Filinvest Land Inc. starts its project. Filinvest is initially set to develop a kilometer of white sand beach at the SRP.

“It’s good that the people were able to see it. After all of these insults and charges and whatever, it’s different when people see it. What was painted in their mind is that it’s a waste of money, that we have no money for place like that, that we should give it back to the national government…good thing the Cebu City owns it,” Osmeña said.

One of the much awaited developments at the SRP, Osmeña said, is the coming of the Ocean Fast Ferries Corporation (Ocean Jet).

Oceanjet is soon to build a world-class terminal facility at the 4,800-square meter property in Kawit Island which the company is set to lease for 25 years from the city government.

Ocean Jet will be paying P40 per square meter per month as rental fee, which could be translated to P192,000 additional monthly revenue for the city government.

“Ocean jet is going there. That’s very significant. It will put us in the tourism map, because we are following the same old strategy that’s been practiced in Hawaii.”

“In Hawaii, the Japanese tourists don’t like to spend overnight in another place, they want to be back in Honolulu at night because that’s where the action is. Just like here, when tourists go to Bohol, we are trying to convince them that you can take a day tour to Bohol but you will always want to come back here because this is where the action is,” Osmeña said.

He said they are just finalizing the contract and will be ready for signing anytime soon.

“I’m pretty sure that we will capture the Ocean Jet market. It’s a big investment for them. To Ocean Jet, it’s a win-win situation. Because one, they save fuel which is the highest cost of operating those boats. Kawit Island is also close to Bohol so it’s faster,” Osmeña said.

The travel time from Kawit Island to Bohol is seen to be 15 minutes less than when passengers travel from Pier 3. —  THE FREEMAN