Rama taps mall owners in street beautification

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama will tap a private company in the beautification of Gen. Maxilom Ave., also known as Mango Ave.

In his regular news conference yesterday, the mayor said he wants Ayala Group to beautify A. Soriano St. from corner Mango Ave. Ext. to Pope John Paul II Ave. (formerly San Jose dela Montaña); and Sitio Batiller, Barangay Mabolo in the North Reclamation Area (NRA).

"That area will have to be (beautified). I will offer it to the Ayala Group and Company that they will come in to beautify that road," he said.

The proposed project, said Rama, will form part of his people privately driven governance.

He wants it to be at no cost to the City Government.

The mayor pointed out that SM Prime Holdings Inc. has committed to beautify and enhance the stretch of S. Osmeña Blvd. while Robinson's Land Inc. has shouldered the cost of the road concreting, drainage and sidewalk improvement surrounding their development at the NRA.

Robinson's P25-million concreting project covers 400 meters of a four-lane road.

Rama said that his proposed improvement of A. Soriano Ave. may also be undertaken with the Gaisanos considering that the family owns most of the properties in the area.

Rama said he plans to meet with the concerned stakeholders in the coming days to discuss the project.

Aside from this, the mayor is asking Amcon Inc. from Yokohama City, Japan to help in the beautification of Gorordo Ext. in Sitio Batiller.

Amcon, with the help of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, is operating a P15-million sewage treatment plant with the City in the NRA.

Rama said he already told Amcon about this in a meeting yesterday.

Rama has been pushing for the beautification of the major thoroughfares in the city to improve the city's aesthetic value and attract more tourists.