Cebu’s skateboarders will have a present from the Cebu City government this Christmas.
This as Cebu City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr., the Deputy Mayor on Sports, announced they are set to break ground for a skate park between the first or second week of December.
The skate park will stand on a 4,000 square-meter lot owned by the city government located right behind Fort San Pedro in Barangay San Roque, Cebu City.
Ma. Victoria “Minnie” Osmeña, who is the sister of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, donated around US$100,000 or roughly P5 million for the construction of the skate park.
“Supposedly, we scheduled the groundbreaking on an earlier date. But we found out that Miss Minnie will be here by December, so we moved it to December,” Gabuya said.
Gabuya said they decided to put the skate park within mainland Cebu City instead of the earlier proposed area at the South Road Properties (SRP) for the convenience of the skateboarders.
“Because if you put it in SRP, transportation going there may be a problem for those who want to use it,” said Gabuya. “But the sports hub will remain at the SRP. It’s only the skate park whose location we transferred.”
Donations
The councilor, however, said they still need additional funds for the construction of the skate park since they project that its cost will reach P12 million.
For the meantime, the city may only finish phase 1 of the skate park, which will include the installation of skate ramps and development of the land.
Gabuya said they are eyeing to ask funds from the city government or tap skateboarding groups for donations.
“The city government may shoulder the remaining expenses. We also do not discount that there may be donations coming from private individuals or groups,” said Gabuya.