Safer, smoother
6-kilometer Sinulog Grand Parade route reduced to 4 kilometers
Separate routes will allow contingents to converge in Gen. Maxilom Ave. before heading to the Cebu City Sports Complex
EXPECT a smoother, safer and more solemn 2017 Sinulog grand parade on Jan. 15 with the carousel route reduced from six to four kilometers, Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak said.
“We will have separate assembly areas for contingents of the street dancing, float, puppeteer and higante competitions to avoid crowding and to heighten security,” he told reporters in an interview yesterday.
Tumulak has been assigned by Mayor Tomas Osmeña to oversee the Sinulog Festival. He is also chair of the City Council committee on peace and order.
From this year’s six-km. carousel, the City Government has reduced the route to four kms. next year.
There will be separate routes that will allow the contingents to converge on Gen. Maxilom Ave. before heading to the Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC).
Participants of the street dancing will go from New Imus Road in Barangay Carreta going to CCSC via Fuente Osmeña.
Floats
The floats and higantes will use Gen. Maxilom Ave. going to A. Soriano Ave. The puppeteers’ route will start from M.J. Cuenco Ave. to Gen. Maxilom Ave.
“There will be no vehicles, puppeteers or floats along the strip for the dancers. Before the grand parade starts, there will be K9 units that will inspect the floats and all the service vehicles of the participants,” Tumulak said.
Before the grand parade starts at 9 a.m., the service vehicles are required to drop off the dancers in New Imus Rd. corner Barangay Day-as.
Then the vehicles will wait for the participants outside the CCSC along N. Bacalso Ave. and send the dancers home after their presentation.
As for participants of the higante contest, the City has assigned J. Alcantara St. as their vehicles’ waiting area.
Security plans laid out by the City, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, are prepared.
Tumulak said that to
further augment security, the City tapped additional forces coming from other regions to conduct checkpoints, especially in entry points within the city’s boundaries.
For the fluvial procession on Jan. 14, an estimated hundred personnel from the Bantay Dagat, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Marines will be fielded to the activity.
Barangay tanods and parish security groups are also asked to help. The security guards of the city’s establishments are re- quested to report immediately to the nearest police station any suspicious personality and activity.
“Security will definitely be tighter starting Jan. 6, which is the opening of the Sinulog celebration. Rest assured, were giving safety and security to our spectators. Our security set up is different from previous years,” Tumulak said.
As for emergency measures, the councilor said barangay health workers (BHW) will be on duty and all 80 local health centers in the city will also be open from Jan. 14 to 15. Minor injuries that will not need hospital care can be tended by the trained BHWs, he said.
He said the City minimizes the use of ambulances during the solemn procession and grand parade to avoid vehicular accident.
Tumulak reminded establishments along the Sinulog route not to put up sound systems outside their premises to prevent flash street parties.
He said the City Government will not issue special permits for street parties, as directed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
But he said establishments, such as bars, can continue to play music as long as it is within their premises as stated in their business permits.