City bars Warwick vendors from reconstructing stalls

CEBU, Philippines - At least 100 stall owners displaced by fire over the weekend that hit Warwick Barracks Market in Ermita, Cebu City are no longer allowed to reconstruct stalls.

There were reports that affected vendors have started constructing their stalls which would also serve as their houses.

 â€œKinsa naghatag nila og authority nga magtukod og balay? They don’t own it,” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama told reporters yesterday.

Rama said vendors and all other businesses in the said market will be transferred to Freedom Park following his plan to restore the original Warwick with a “combination of social aspect in the government, return of investment and preservation of heritage”.

 Rama was inspired by Lucy Urgello Miller, who authored the historical book, “Glimpses of the Old Cebu” to implement restoration in downtown areas particularly in Warwick Barracks and Freedom Park.

In 1920, Rama said Warwick Barracks (Cuartel de Infanteria) or military barracks which was built around 1902, has a park and open spaces.

 Rama said he wants to restore what can be restored at the old barracks with commercial buildings, housing, park and open spaces.

“If only we could bring back because it was really glorious, it is like bringing back the beginning in line with the restoration. I always followed what I believe bringing balance that we will have prosperity in addressing environmental degradation, heritage decay and historical obsolescence,” Rama said.

 The restoration could be materialized through a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme, said Rama.

 Meanwhile, Rama has already directed acting City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete to collate all the projects the city government is planning.

“I want him to put all his effort para all of these mahimuan og chart, checklist and everything will be put into matrix para makita nato ang progress report,” Rama said.

Also, Rama said he already gave orders to Poblete and Ermita barangay captain Felicisimo Rupinta to fast track the reclamation plan in sitio Bato that will be utilized as a landing area.

 Rama is eyeing to construct a five to 10 kilometers coastal road from Ermita to barangay Inayawan.

 The coastal road will start from Ermita passing along barangays Pasil, Suba, Sawang Calero, Duljo Fatima, Mambaling, Basak and Inayawan.

Also to be discussed are the plan to wider the opening of Ermita-Guadalupe-Pasil river, restoration of three-meter easement in the city, and the like.

 â€œI want to improve the living condition of everybody because that’s my mission.” Ram said. (FREEMAN)