The Yap-Sandiego ancestral house in downtown Cebu City is among the top heritage sites that tourists can visit. |CDN FILE PHOTO
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The downtown area in Cebu City can now be considered a Heritage District after the council approved the proposed ordinance during its regular session on Wednesday, October 25.
It was authored by Cebu City Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia.
And since Garcia was the presiding officer, he requested Councilor Philip Zafra to take over the presiding duty.
On Wednesday, Garcia moved for the approval of the Heritage District ordinance in the final deliberation and third reading and was seconded by Councilors Jocelyn Pesquera, Pancrasio Esparis, and Joel Garganera.
READ: Preserving heritage in suburban developments
The council approved the ordinance with amendments to Sections 5, 7, and 8.
Heritage district areas, boundaries
Section 5 contained the coverage of the Heritage District which before its amendment, was composed of the following areas and boundaries:
- Starting from the intersection Heritage District includes the area up to the endpoint of Tejero Creek at Pier CPA, then along the CPA shoreline up to the boundary line of Barangay Sto. Niño, and along the shoreline to Quezon Blvd.
- The Heritage District also covers Abellana Street, the intersection of Gen. Gines Street, the intersection with R. Magsaysay Street, and the intersection with JM Basa Street, before returning to the starting point of V. Rama-N. Bacalso intersection.
Amended
Following the amendment, the final areas and boundaries of the Heritage District are:
- Starting from the intersection of V. Rama Ave. and N. Bacalso Street, proceeding to P. Del Rosario Street, then to Imus Street, up to the intersection of General Maxilom Ave. then continuing to the intersection of General Maxilom Ave. and Tejero Creek.
- The Heritage District then proceeds to the area up to the endpoint of Tejero Creek at the Pier of Cebu Port Authority (CPA), then along the Cebu City shoreline leading to the boundary line of Brgy. Sto. Niño, and proceeding to the shoreline up to the boundary of Brgy. Suba intersecting with Belgium St.
- From Belgium St., up to the intersection of R. Magsaysay Street, proceeding to JM Basa Street, to V. Rama Ave. up to the starting point of V. Rama-N. Bacalso intersection.
Meanwhile, the amendments in Sections 7 and 8 were for the composition of the Cebu City Heritage District Council, and the required number of members of the council that would constitute a quorum in their scheduled meetings.
READ: Cebu City’s downtown area declared ‘heritage district’
The said district council will manage and develop the Heritage District which is comprised of multi-sectoral representatives from civil society, business enterprises, and the government.
The Cebu City Heritage District Ordinance of 2023 would also be referred to as the City Ordinance 2720.
Garcia submitted his proposed ordinance last May 3, 2023.
CDN Digital reached out to Garcia for his comments on the council’s decision, but as of writing, it has yet to receive his response. /rcg
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