Mactan channel closed today for fluvial parade

No shipping vessels can dock at the pier area this morning as the Cebu Coast Guard has to close the Mactan Channel from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. to give way to the fluvial parade of the miraculous image of Sr. Sto. Niño.

Cebu Coast Guard Station commander Manolito Malig-on said that ships that are set to leave or arrive at the port within the two-hour closure must have to wait until the fluvial parade will be finished.

Malig-on said that around a hundred sea vessels are expected to participate in the fluvial parade.

As of yesterday afternoon, the Cebu Coast Guard station has registered 66 ships including outriggers that will paticipate.

But Malig-on announced they cannot prevent other sea vessels from joining the parade even if these don't have the required registration, since the fluvial parade is a religious activity practiced by the devotees of the Sr. Sto. Niño.

However, he urged vessel owners who will just join the parade to obey the regulations imposed by the designated marshals to maintain order of the parade.

The Naval Forces Central and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are also deploying their personnel to help the Coast Guard in maintaining the order of the parade.

No major changes of the fluvial parade from the previous activity, but Malig-on said this time, they are discouraging children below 12 years old from riding on the boats, and that participants are warned not to bring firecrackers while at sea during the parade to prevent any untoward incidents.

After a Holy Mass at the St. Joseph's National Shrine in Mandaue City, a procession of the image of the Sr. Sto. Niño will follow going to the Ouano residence in barangay Looc, Mandaue City.

At exactly 7:00 a.m., the image will be boarded on the designated boat, which will then proceed to Muelle Osmeña near the Our Lady of Rule church in Lapu-Lapu City, passing by the General Milling area, then to the first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and back to the Ouano wharf, then straight ahead to Pier 1 in Cebu City.

At Pier 1, the image of the Sr. Sto. Niño will be received by officials of Cebu City and Basilica del Santo Niño.

The solemn procession will take place this afternoon. - Gregg M. Rubio