MAASIN CITY – The infrastructure project intended for the celebration of the 500 years of the First Easter Mass in Asia will need around P200 million.
This was disclosed by Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado who said that the funding will come from the national government,particularly from the Department of Tourism.
“The provincial government will have a counterpart of P30 million or 15 percent of the budget,” Gov. Mercado said.
The 500th year of the First Mass will be held in 2021.
Infrastructure projects for the 500 years celebration includes the construction of 30 feet cross overlooking Limasawa Island that will have restaurant and a café, a shrine and a chapel.
“Some residents are to be relocated because their houses are located in the area where these projects are to be built,” Mercado said.
“The provincial government had already bought a lot where they will be relocated and we also bought the properties within the project site so that when it begins the national government will not face any problem,” Mercado added.
The province bought the property for P7 million.
Last week, the provincial government with DOT8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta, Diocese of Maasin as represented by Fr. Dennis Cagantas and the event technical team met to talk for updates for this monumental event in Philippine history and to Christian faith.
“Most of our discussion was focused on the updates,” Mercado said.
DOT8 heads the committee for the fifth centennial celebration of the First Mass, with the provincial government as co-chair, while members were the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government unit of Limasawa.
In its earlier full council meeting in June this year, the RDC issued Resolution No. 32 which endorsed the request for support and funding requirements of the 500th celebration to concerned agencies.
Aside from the DOT, the Department of Transportation also implemented a project in Limasawa Island to ease travel of tourists and guest who will be visiting the town in 2021 by constructing a new port in the eastern part of the island closer to Barangay Magallanes where the major activities are to be held.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
