Tomas denies permit applications for SRP parties

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña denied all applications for permit for parties at the South Road Properties (SRP) during the Sinulog.

“It's conducive to using drugs. That's only one of the reasons. But the real compelling reason is the traffic in the South Coastal road,” Osmeña said.

He said partygoers will just park anywhere and will cause traffic along the South Coastal Road, which is the major alternate route for southbound commuters since there is an ongoing underpass construction on the highway.

Another consideration is that by that time, the city's volunteers and enforcers are already exhausted and will not have enough time to respond incidents at the parties and other events.

The city government only approved the Plus 63 event at the Cebu Business Park, which is away from the downtown area.

The mayor also warned those who will be attending concerts and parties.

“I would like to give a warning to those attending concerts and parties. If you're offered drinks, do not drink it because it might be spiked with drugs because there have been some reports on that,” he told reporters.

Osmeña said he received reports that a person died last year because of alleged drink spiking wherein alcohol or drugs are added to the drink without the person's knowing. But it was also reported that the victim died of aneurysm.

“Actually, I want a quiet Sinulog if you really ask me. I really want a quiet Sinulog. It's much better for me. Now, if I'm not the mayor, I want a noisy Sinulog because I wanted to have fun. But since I'm the mayor, I don't like to confront all those problems so I want a quiet Sinulog,” he said in jest.

By quiet, he meant that this year's Sinulog would have lesser crowd, lesser traffic, and no wild activities and parties because of the ban on entertainment and liquor.

Osmeña said it is his goal to make this year's Sinulog safe and orderly that people will feel secure enough to bring their children next year.

“The Sinulog is about the Sto. Niño. The Sto. Niño is a child. I want our children to grow up with this embedded in their culture, just as we did. The Sinulog is Cebu. The Sto. Niño is Cebu. Our children are Cebu,” he added.

In Mandaue City, only one openground event was able to secure all a permit for a party.

"Only one has a permit so far because the rest applied for permits only last Friday, late in the afternoon," Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing said.

The Life Dance was the only social event approved because they have complied with all the requirements within three to four days while two city-based business establishments advertised their events before applying for permits, which made Quisumbing disappointed.

"We found out they have been advertising before sila nilukat og permit. That does not sit well with me," Quisumbing said.

Social events like parties are not allowed to be scheduled on Sunday since it is the Sinulog Grand Parade and that Quisumbing wants the personnel assigned in Clean and Green as well as the traffic enforcers to have a good rest on that day.

He said the city government will definitely deny their permits if they cannot present documents that would explain why they applied late.