Budget delays templete works for thanksgiving

CEBU, Philippines - The construction of the templete for the thanksgiving mass in celebration of the canonization of the soon-to-be second Filipino Saint, Pedro Calungsod, was delayed by a week because of the delay in the release of the budget.

Fr. Raul Gallego, chairman of the Committee on Venue tasked to prepare the site for the nationwide thanksgiving mass, said the P6 million budget for the construction of the “templete” is yet to be approved by the Finance Committee.

Gallego hopes that the budget will be approved today so they can proceed with the construction in full swing.

The construction was supposed to start two weeks ago but it only started last week with all materials delivered on promissory agreement. “The committee on finance would like to make sure that everything is above board before it releases funds,” Gallego said.

Despite the delay, the committee is confident that the templete will be completed on time by October.

Architect Ramon Vios, co-chairman of the venue committee, said all donations and assistance will be welcomed as only P6 million is the available funds for the templete from the original proposal of P30 million.

“We would need a lot of materials. So we are appealing to the kind public to donate materials,” Vios said.

The preparation for the venue of the nationwide thanksgiving mass for Calungsod would need more filling materials, iron bars, sand and gravel and cement, among others.

The archdiocese will only have to worry on the construction of the “templete” because SM Prime Holdings already volunteered to undertake the site development. This saved the church about P60 million estimated cost for site development.

SM has started works on the road network and will soon start working on the pavements, Gallego said.

Vios also requested the utilities distributors to install the electricity, water and telecommunication lines the soonest possible time.

Over one million participants from across the country are expected to witness this historical event come November 30. Calungsod will be canonized on October 21 in Vatican City.

The Cebu Archdiocese has requested the city government to declare at least 700 square meters at the South Road Properties, where the “templete” will be constructed, as historical site. The 700 square meters shall already include the templete itself and some open space where they could hold activities such as mass.  (FREEMAN)