City asks NTC for back-up lines for fest organizers

The Cebu City Government has asked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 7 to provide back-up communication lines for the responders and organizers during the week-long celebration of Sinulog 2018.

In an interview yesterday, Tumulak, who also chairs the Sinulog Executive Committee, said there might be a problem in communication during the Sinulog week, particularly during the grand parade on Jan. 21 due to the number of people that will troop to the city.

“We need to have a back-up communication, that’s why we requested NTC to assist us and they pledged to tap also radio amateur groups,” he said.

The secondary communication will be used by the police, the medical group and the Sinulog operations team.

Tumulak said hand-held radio users, particularly those private individuals without licenses, should refrain from using it during the Sinulog grand parade because it will be confiscated.

“We would also like to inform hand-held radio users, private individuals, refrain from using hand-held radios, especially if you are not a licensed radio handler. As we have agreed with NTC 7, we will write a letter to NTC to confiscate hand-held radios,” he said.

Those who will be allowed to carry their hand-held radios, Tumulak said will be given identification cards, which they should wear starting Jan. 11 until the grand parade.

Meanwhile, Tumulak said they have yet to receive a letter to shut down the signal of cellular sites during the grand parade.

If there is a threat to the safety of the festivity, Tumulak said it will be up to the police to recommend it to NTC 7 for approval.

Last year, cellular sites signals were shut down during the major activities of Sinulog as part of the security measures that the organizers and police implemented. /