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CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Cebu City government will expand the park near the Magellan's Cross so tourists can have enough space to view it and have their pictures taken at the historical landmark.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama met on Tuesday with vendors, police, barangay (village) officials and tourism stakeholders about the plan.
All sides of the area surrounding the Magellan's Cross will be off limits to traffic, he said.
A portion of the area from the City Hall legislative building is temporarily closed because of ongoing landscaping work that will extend to the Magellan's Cross.
In the meantime, the road in between the legislative building and the Magellan's Cross will continue to be closed to pedestrians.
It may even be closed permanently, Rama said.
“With the closure, no entities or people can just stand by there,” he said.
The presence of beggars, vendors and street children in the area was earlier raised by tourism stakeholders as an irritant and negative experience for visitors.
“How can we promote tourism if we are not responding to their concerns?” Rama asked.
Sometimes tourists get annoyed by vendors who peddle their merchandise even if this disturbs the efforts of tour guides explaining the historical value of the site.
Rama said vendors especially those selling souvenir items would be relocated to one of the city's warehouses along M.C. Briones Street behind City Hall.
A portion of Magallanes Street between the legislative building, the Magellan's Cross and Basilica del Sto. Niño would continue to be temporarily closed to vehicles.
For now, the closure has not caused any problems in downtown traffic.
Traffic congestion only started when a drainage project began along D. Jakosalem Street at the southern side of the legislative building.
Rama said the city government sent more traffic enforcers in the area to maintain the smooth flow of vehicles.
He said the road closure would only cause a minimal traffic disturbance because the M.C. Briones Street has been widened and cleared of sidewalk vendors.
Meanwhile, vehicles coming from the Plaza Independencia and from the Carbon Public Market can now exit through the access road of the South Road Properties along D. Jakosalem extension going to Talisay City. /Correspondent Chris A. Ligan
