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CEBU CITY, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said Tuesday he is still keen on improving the Cebu City Zoological Garden in Barangay (village) Kalunasan and turn it into a “world class” facility despite new threats from the provincial government.
Osmeña said the city government “will hold its ground” on the planned rehabilitation so that Cebuanos, especially children, would have a chance to enjoy wildlife in a park.
Osmeña said he was confident Manila businessman Robert Yupangco would not back out of their earlier agreement to help the city government develop the zoo.
He said Yupangco, who operates Zoobic Safari in Subic Free Port and supplies exotic animals to different zoos, is aware of the city’s dispute with the provincial government.
Yupangco counts among his clients former Ilocos Governor Chavit Singson and Cebuano pawnshop magnate Michel Lhuillier.
Osmeña said Yupangco is now preparing the development plan for the city zoo, which will be presented for the mayor’s review before this is sent to the city council for approval.
The development plan will include the renovation of animal cages similar to those in the Zoobic Zafari.
Provincial legal officer Marino Martinquilla wrote Yupangco on March 19 warning him against investing in the zoo project.
Martinquilla said the Cebu provincial government would take legal action against the city government and Yupangco if they insist on developing the property, which the province owns. /Reporter Doris C. Bongcac
