Name new Mactan bridge after Fernan

Mayor Ernest Weigel Jr. favors naming the 2nd Mandaue-Mactan bridge as Senate Preseident Marcelo Fernan bridge. The late senate president deserved to be honored for being a great Cebuano, Weigel said. Fernan was also Chief of Justice of the Supreme court, making him the lone Filipino to lead both the Senate and the Judiciary.

Wigel said he was invited to attend the congressional hearing on the proposed bill naming the bridge after Fernan, which is set on Feb 3. Meanwhile, Weigel plans to name the circumferential road in the city after President Carlos Garcia since not a single road is named after the late president.

President Garcia was responsible for making Lapu-Lapu, then called Opon, a city. He also had a hand in the creation of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Weigel said. House Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas and Senator John Osmena filed separate bills for the naming of the new Mandaue-Mactan bridge as Senate President Marcelo Fernan bridge.

In House Bill 7928, describes Fernan as one of the greatest Cebuanos and the only Filipino in recent history to have occupied the highest positions in two separate branches of government as Chief Justice and Senate President. Senator Osmena files a bill stating that to name the bridge after Fernan would be a fitting tribute to the man.

Photo Courtesy of Marcelo Fernan Jr.

For complete story, check out Sunstar Daily Electronic Edition at: http://192.41.18.39/index.html This was in the Jan. 30, 2000 issue. Information supplied by: Paz Fernan-Shepherd