SKATE PARK:

Cebu City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya points out that although the mayor’s sister donated P5 million for the project, the City needs an additional P10 million to finish it

Donor Maria Victoria “Minnie” Osmeña, 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña (third, fifth and sixth from left, respectively) hold up the memorandum of agreement signed during the groundbreaking of the Cebu City Skate Park. With them are Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo (second from left), and Cebu City Councilors Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Mary Ann de los Santos and Margarita “Margot” Osmeña.

The construction of the Cebu City Skate Park will start next week after the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Cebu City Government and the donor, Maria Victoria “Minnie” Osmeña, on Tuesday, Dec. 4.

“Next week hopefully (mag start) and mahuman mga two to three months (February) after. Si Minnie (Osmeña) ra maoy magpa construct. Inig ka human, iya ra i-turn over (sa City),” said Cebu City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya.

However, in a Facebook post that was later deleted, a skate boarder expressed his disappointment with the design, saying Asian Games 2018 skateboarding gold medalist Margielyn Didal would not be able to practice in it.

Open to revision

Gabuya said the design can still be revised.

“Maybe they saw the old design. It’s okay, but I assure them all skateboarders will be able to use the skate park,” he said in Cebuano.

Minnie, the sister of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, donated P5 million for the project. But Gabuya pointed out that they need an additional P10 million to complete the skate park’s street and flat course.

The mayor said the skate park will be open to all skateboarders in the city, adding that admission is free.

“Of course, libre (it’s free). Usually you start something, and you wait for the reaction on how they use it,” the mayor said.

Rexsan Cupta, who has been a skateboarder for the last two years, said he is happy with the idea of having a skate park in the city.

“I’m sure people will be happy to see them off the streets and the sidewalks,” he said in Cebuano.

Aside from the signing of the MOA and the groundbreaking ceremony, there was also the laying of the time capsule.

In attendance were Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Salvador Panelo, Didal, Councilors Margot Osmeña, Mary Ann Delos Santos, Gabuya and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Jessica Resch.

When asked why she donated for the project, Minnie said she wanted to keep Cebuano skateboarders off the streets.

“Tommy (the mayor) just said that it would make the children happy, so I took the opportunity to give funds to see the children happy,” she said.