City Hall to revive Cebu City zoo

CEBU, Philippines —  As part of his vision of a Singapore-like Cebu City, Mayor Michael Rama wants the city’s zoo in Barangay Kalunasan revived.

Once reopened, the zoo will now be renamed as the “Cebu City Wildlife Protection and Rescue Resources Facility.”

Some of Cebu City Hall’s employees and volunteers from different groups have already started cleaning up the zoo which was left unattended when Rama lost his re-election bid to Tomas Osmena in 2016.

“Since we have this volume of people coming over as volunteers, (coming from both the) public and private sectors, makita nato diha nga atong gisiguro ma-clear gyud ang main pathways. Unya para makahawan sila, atong mga tawo nanilhig,” said Lemuel Felisario, operations head of the Cebu City Hall Satellite Center under the Barangay Affairs Office.

Felisario said the entire restoration concept has not been finalized yet, but, when they are done clearing, the facility would initially become an area for rescue and treatment facility for sick animals.

“Wala pa ta kaayo gyud naka-concept nga zoo ni.  Here, right now it becomes a nursery, or it could become a sanctuary para sa atong mga gi-rescue nato nga mga mananap,” added Felisario.

Since its closure in 2016, there are still some animals staying in the facility.  Felisario, however, did not enumerate the animals left in the area, since most of them were said to have been donated. — GAN (FREEMAN)