Plaza reopens to public May 1

CEBU, Philippines - After several years of not serving its purpose as a park due to the construction of the tunnel underneath it, the historic Plaza Independencia will finally be reopened to the public on May 1.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has instructed Geety Realty Construction, which undertook the rehabilitation of the plaza, and the Parks and Playground Commission to fast-track the rehabilitation so they could finish it by the target date.

“Naa ta’y deadline ug target date nga ilang mahuman aron naa ta’y basihan nga ato unyang panilngan,” Rama told reporters during his press conference yesterday.

Plaza Independencia was destroyed in 2007 due to the construction of the tunnel, thus the need for a major renovation to restore the park, which is one of the city’s landmarks.

The mayor said the park has to be preserved because it is part of the city’s cultural heritage.

The plaza’s major renovation, which covers site grading, landscaping, lighting, plumbing among others, cost the city government some P40 million.

The fencing, which cost P1.3 million, was finished last year while the whole grounds—including the war veterans’ monument, Legaspi obelisk, Magsaysay monument and a fountain—is almost done.

Rama has identified the Plaza Independencia renovation as one of his administration’s major projects. The preservation of heritage sites, open spaces and parks are important for Cebu City, he said, for a better quality of life for urban residents and to make Cebu a more welcoming destination for tourists.

The perimeter fencing for the Plaza Independencia, which costs P1.39 million, was completed early October.

But with the opening of the historical place, Rama said the plaza will be strictly off limit for vendors.

“Mababoy man gud ang plaza if naa’y mamaligya,” the mayor said.

Dr. Librado Macaraya, chairman of the Cebu City Parks and Playground Commission, said they are hurrying to finish and reach their target for the opening of the plaza to the public by May.

With the renovation, Macaraya said they are also planning to install CCTV cameras and increase the security in the area considering that it is a popular hangout of the public.

Plaza Independencia is strategically located between Fort San Pedro and the building that used to be the Gobierno Provincial in the downtown area of Cebu.

In the early 1600s, it was called Plaza de Armas. When it was widened later on and expanded to reach nearby properties of the Cathedral of Cebu, it was called Plaza Mayor.

Later in the Spanish rule, it was further landscaped and developed and was christened Plaza Maria Cristina, in honor of the queen regent.

During the American colonial period, its name was changed to Plaza Libertad, as the Americans asserted how they liberated Cebuanos from the Spanish rule. Later on it finally became known as Plaza Independencia. (FREEMAN)