Osmeña eyes to ban liquor, parties along Sinulog route
To maintain peace and order, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is now preparing an executive order banning liquor and parties within the 300-meter radius of the Sinulog 2018 route.
Osmeña said the move was suggested by Councilor David Tumulak, the city's deputy mayor for police matters.
“Deciding factor for me is crowd control if, God forbid, a bomb is detonated. People have to understand that there is a threat,” he told The FREEMAN.
The ban will take place on January 19 to January 21 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The prohibited activities are concerts, shows, performances, gigs, recitals, events, street parties, among others not limited to putting up loud speakers and other sound devices.
Osmeña said the city government will not allow the extension of tables and chairs outside the premises of the establishment within the 300-meter radius of the Sinulog Parade route and the Procession route using the establishment’s parking space.
The mayor also said the city government will help in setting up an area where concerts, events, among others will be held so that there will be no residents that will be affected.
“There is a need to regulate business establishments and vendors during the Sinulog Festival to safeguard the smooth and orderly celebration of the Sinulog Festival and ensure the safety of its attendees,” reads a portion of the draft order.
This year’s Sinulog, there were a series of incidents involving Sinulog revelers who reportedly went wild and became unruly.
To recall, the police stopped the "Paintensity" dance party in Barangay Kasambagan after some people in the crowd reportedly became unruly which led to a stampede but this report was discounted by the police.
In addition, the city government threatened to close two business establishments along Juana Osmeña Street.
Osmeña said Century Plaza Hotel and Muvanz Pocherohan and Seafoods reportedly violated the National Building Code and the Revised Zoning Ordinance of the City over the use of the hotel’s parking space during the Sinulog.
He said the executive order will warn all business establishments to avoid the same violation during next year’s Sinulog.