Puso Village set to open next month

CEBU, Philippines — New hope springs for the Puso Village as Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia announced yesterday that it will finally be opened in January of 2025.

“By January, hopefully, before Sinulog we can already open our Puso Village,” Garcia said in a press conference.

The Puso Village, one of the supposed first new attractions under the redevelopment project of the Carbon Market between the Cebu City government and Cebu2World Inc. (C2W), was first targeted to be opened in 2021, but was later moved to another year until it eventually got stalled following the squabble between then mayor Mike Rama and the Cebu Ports Authority concerning the ownership of the Compania Maritima. The Puso Village, accordingly, is under CPA’s property.

With Rama out of City Hall, the Garcia met with CPA officials to discuss the development around the disputed area, including the Compania Maritima, the Puso Village among others.

The Cebu City government and CPA are now currently in good terms, with Garcia stressing out that “diplomacy works”.

Earlier, the Carbon Market tourism zone’s phase 1 was also inaugurated with Garcia taking pride of the latest development.

“It’s a good story to make… Mohangyo ko sa media, before and after how diplomacy of mine works wonders,” Garcia said.

The tourism zone, Garcia mentioned now has its own MRF, parking space including for motorcycles, and much better Carbon Police Station, and that is for phase 1 alone.

While still waiting for the Puso Village to be operational, Garcia said, he already told its partners in the Carbon redevelopment that they should also clean up and beautify the Compania Maritima.

“With the possession from the CPA, they (C2W) promised to beautify it and also landscaping… Hopefully before Christmas… This is how diplomacy works for Cebu City,” Garcia ended. — (FREEMAN)