Prov'l gov't help sought vs. conversion of shrine

CEBU, Philippines - Two homeowners groups in Barangay Lahug and the management of the Taoist Temple have asked Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to support their opposition against the move of a religious group to convert the Osmeña Shrine in the neighboring Barangay Kalunasan into a cemetery. 

Former Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann Delos Santos accompanied officers of the Beverly Hills, Beverly Glen homeowners associations in a meeting with Garcia yesterday.

Garcia, for her part, said she would want to hear the sentiment of the general public on the issue.

“We will decide on what course to take after having studied our options very carefully and, of course, also after having listened to representations from several resident associations that are vehemently opposed to this project to put a cemetery to be located in their midst,” Garcia said.

“From there we would be already coming up with alliances with the governor depending upon the pulso sa katawhan ug unsa gyud ang tiunay nga pulso sa katawhan mahitungod sa maong oposisyon,” Delos Santos told reporters.

Garcia said earlier there are several irregularities involving the donation of a portion of the Osmeña Shrine lot in Barangay Kalunasan to the Evangelical Christian Coalition of Cebu Inc. (ECCCI) by then Cebu City Mayor and current Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

“We already made our pronouncement as regards these parcels of land. While it is true we donated these properties and that there were certain conditions attached in the deed of donation,” Garcia said.

A compromise agreement entered into by the Province and the City of Cebu stated that these specific parcels of land agreed to be retained by the city for specific purpose whether for park and playgrounds or either as Osmeña water reservoir or as Osmeña Shrine.

“We are taking a wait and see attitude, we are studying our options very carefully and we are open to listening to public opinion especially the affected public,” Garcia said.

A public hearing was conducted on the proposed conversion of the property into a cemetery, but the affected residents were reportedly not given the venue to amplify their sentiments.

“So we shall give them that venue especially since the province also has a stake in this,” Garcia said. (FREEMAN)