Lapu-Lapu eyes reopening of cave to attract more tourists

The creation of the Senior Citizen's Park under the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge will complement the Cuevah de Meiallah, an underground cave eyed by the Lapu-Lapu City government as a tourist attraction.

Mayor Paz Radaza believes the underground cave will boost tourism in the city, aside from the famous Liberty Shrine in Barangay Mactan, known to locals as the "Mactan Shrine."

Radaza has yet to lay down additional details of the city's plans for the cave, to give way to the Senior Citizens Park.

The cave was closed in 2011 after the place was reportedly used as a den for using shabu and a dating place for lovers.

According to unverified reports, the cave was said to be a place for worship by Datu Lapu-Lapu himself.

Aside from a place of worship, different religious icons were reportedly housed inside the cave, where a female priest or babaylan held masses.

It was also said to be the entry point to Guadalupe in Cebu City and Barangays Punta Engaño and Poblacion in LapuLapu City.

Pajo Barangay Captain Junard Chan, previously said that if the city government will push through with the project, a large statue of the Virgen Dela Regla will be placed in area, if the parish priest will permit.

The cave is located within the borders of a private company, but Chan said a partnership between the firm and the city government might be possible to make the cave a tourist spot.

Demolition of houses took place earlier this month under the bridge and Radaza assured the 87 families affected that they will be provided with jobs.

"During the construction, mahimo man sad sila maka-negosyo or kung naa na ang park, mahimo man sad sila maka-negosyonegosyo," Radaza said.

Chan, on the other hand, said the families affected by the demolition will be the one to decide whether they will continue to stay in the barangay or live in another place.

Some families, he said, were living in Sitio Kamansi (still in Pajo) since their children are enrolled in schools within the barangay.

The city government gave each family P10,000 while the Department of Public Works and Highways also gave them P1,500 and 20 kilos of rice.

The Senior Citizen's Park is a project of city lone district Representative Aileen Radaza with a budget of P24 million.