Renaming Osmeña Blvd. seen to create confusion

The proposal to rename President Osmeña Boulevard to President Osmeña Avenue will only confuse the public, this according to the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission on the proposed measure of Councilor Gabriel Leyson after it was referred to their agency.

Leyson, chairman of the committee on public works, said he is proposing changing the name of the stretch from the Capitol to the corner of M. J. Cuenco Avenue from Osmeña Boulevard to Osmeña Avenue saying it is a "wrong choice of words".

The term boulevard, according to Leyson, refers to a wide street lined by trees and is located near the sea or beachfront while the word avenue refers to a wide street lined by structures on both sides.

But CHAC commissioner Jaime Picornell said the term boulevard does not necessarily refer to a street nor a road near a shoreline and the word boulevard may be interchanged with the word avenue.

"Renaming of Osmeña Boulevard to Osmeña Avenue would create more confusion by the public since there is also a Sergio Osmeña Avenue located at the North Reclamation Area," according to Picornell.

Picornell even pointed out that Jones Avenue is still fresh in the memory of the majority of Cebuanos, in fact, it is still being used in the signboards of many public utility jeepneys.

Presently the existing City Ordinance No. 392, which was approved on September 28, 1962 during the administration of then mayor Carlos Cuizon, named the road from Fuente Osmeña to Cebu Provincial Capitol as Don Sergio Osmeña Boulevard.

Osmeña Boulevard is composed of the former Esperanza Osmeña Boulevard (from Capitol to Fuente), Jones Avenue (from Fuente to corner Sanciangko Street) and Juan Luna Street (from Sanciangko up to Plaza Independencia).

By virtue of a national law, the three streets were merged into one that was named Osmeña Boulevard. Leyson said he sees nothing wrong with changing the word since the name of late President Sergio Osmeña Sr. has not been changed.

Osmeña was the only Cebuano president and he worked for the country's independence from the United States. - Garry B. Lao/BRP