Rama closes ‘unsafe’ skate park
After his classes everyday, young skateboarder Onil Anthony Cortes would find himself heading to the Emporium Skate Park near the open space of Compania Maritima in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.
Cortes, 13, told The FREEMAN that the skate park has become a favorite hangout for friends who share the same passion.
"Daghan mang lugar nga pwede mi maka-skate pero mas nindot diri kay naa'y ramp gyud ba (There are other areas to skate but I prefer it here since there is a ramp)," he said.
Yesterday, however, Cortes was dismayed to discover that his favorite skateboarding place had been shut down, prompting him and his fellow skateboarding enthusiasts to now look for an alternative place for their recreation.
Mayor Michael Rama ordered the skate park's closure after he chanced upon skateboarders who used the facility without protective gear yesterday while inspecting the proposed site for vans-for-hire terminal nearby.
"I would like it closed in the meantime. It's an attractive nuisance for the public kay duol sa disgrasya labi na sa mga skateboarders kay wala'y helmet inig duwa diha. Kon wala pa ko kakita, wala ko'y labot sa disgrasya, pero kita naman ko," he said.
Rama asked City Administrator Lucelle Mercado to talk with the owner of the facility since he was informed that the owner reportedly failed to secure business permit.
At present, Cebu City does not have a standing ordinance regulating skateboarders.
When reporters asked Rama if he wants to push for such legislation, he only said "regulating skateboarders would mean legalizing it."
The mayor then asked Mercado to coordinate with the City Legal Office to ensure that the closure will hit no legal impediments.
Mercado, for her part, went to the area and talked with Emporium Skate Park owner Marslou Crestoria, who reportedly agreed with the facility's shutdown.
Mercado said Crestoria is collecting P35 from each user for the unlimited use of the facility starting 3 p.m.
Separately, Crestoria said he started construction of the skateboard ramp in January 2014, using concrete material debris from the magnitude 7.2 quake in 2013.
However, he claimed that the facility became fully operational only in May 2015.
"Dako kaayo ko'g plano to secure permit sa City Hall kay wala'y laing ingon ani sa city. Pero maend na man akong four-year contract karong August sa lugar," he said.
On a normal day, an average of six skateboarders would go to the area, he added.
Crestoria said he is renting the space from a private owner for P50,000 a month, and the owner reportedly intends to increase the fee to P120,000 once the current contract ends.
"Mo-try pa ko og negotiate with the owner kon mosugot nga pagamyan ang para rent. Mo-secure gyud ko'g mga permits para ma-official ni nga business," he said. —