How P. Zamora Street looks today, the road link between two of Cebu’s biggest churches. (Contributed)
Two of Cebu’s major churches — the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral — are linked by one street.
When people pass by, pedestrians cover their noses and walk as fast as they can to get away from the stench of trash and and hold their bags and wallets tighter to guard against snatchers.
Advocates for a “liveable Cebu” and architects are helping redesign Padre Zamora Street into a heritage lane of downtown Cebu City.
The plan was shown in a consultation last Monday at City Hall with stakeholders — street vendors, business representatives of Jollibee, stores and Sto. Nino Barangay captain Pancho Ramirez.
Members of the Movement for a Liveable Cebu (MLC) are spearheading the Urban Revitalization Project for P. Zamora Street as well as the neighboring Legaspi Street along the cathedral and Osmeña Boulevard on the boundary of the basilica.
Sto. Niño priests had asked the MLC’s help to transform the area to reflect its rich cultural heritage.
The street is occupied by vendors of food, flowers, and religious icons, carenderias and business establishments.
The project envisions to transform the area into a “Fiesta Marketplace.”
An artist’s rendition of the transformed P. Zamora Street. (contributed)
Stakeholders
Architect and urban planner Joy Onozawa-Martinez invited the stakeholders to get involved in the project.
“This plan is not yet final and we will be working together on the final details for the project,” she said.
Students of the University of San Carlos – College of Architecture and Fine Arts (USC-Cafa) presented a proposed design of the Fiesta Marketplace.
The initial design concept includes wide pedestrian lanes. The pavement would have a pattern of waves to symbolize the Mega Cebu’s slogan “Making WAVES” as well as the flow of the ocean from which the Sinulog dance is derived.
Vendors would have uniform stalls.
One lane from the basilica to the cathedral would be for pedestrians, while the other lane will be used for cars.
“When you want to buy something, you don’t need a car, you walk. That’s why it’s important to have more sidewalk space in this area. We want a comfortable and safe pedestrian lane for people,” Onozawa said.
After the presentation, participants were grouped into five for a workshop to draw out ideas.
They wanted the area to have proper garbage disposal, police visibility and security, clean canals, street lights and public toilets. They were worried about night dwellers, mostly street beggars.
After the meeting, they signed their support for the project on a sheet of manila paper.
Onozawa of MLC said more meetings will be held to discuss update.
“We want to start with Padre Zamora Street. With the Better Block approach, we can replicate this in other areas.”
She assured there are several programs that can support the project including a Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Convergence Program to enhance tourism access and a DOT-Department of Environment and Natural Resources memorandum of agreement on urban greening.