CEBU - At least 2,000 out-of-town and less privileged devotees of Santo Niño are expected to seek temporary shelter at the Devotee City during the celebration of the Sinulog.
Councilor Edwin Jagmoc, head of the Devotee City committee, said 72 container vans were installed right beside the Fort San Pedro to provide shelter for devotees who could not afford for pay for their accommodation during the festivities.
“Ang among records nagpakita nga matag tuig nag-anam og kadaghan ang mga devotees nga gikan sa lagyong lugar nga walay kapuy-an dinhi nga mopahimulos sa libreng serbisyo sa Cebu City government,” Jagmoc told the reporters during the launching of the project yesterday.
The Devotee City, a project of the city government, which was established in 1996, is providing free services like water and electricity to devotees who want to take temporary shelter and is secured by the police and crime watch volunteers.
Councilor Arsenio Pacana, vice chairman of the Devotee City committee, said those who want to avail temporary shelter should present proofs that they come from far places such as bus and ship tickets, aside from the identification cards and other documents.
Only those living in Cebu towns beyond Carcar City in the south and Danao City in the north, and those coming from the other provinces are allowed to register and make use of the facility.
To provide entertainment to the devotees, the project’s organizers have lined up nightly activities for them.
Tonight, the City Hall’s drama talents will perform a live drama presentation, while the Julies Franchise Corporation also promised to hire some personalities to perform variety shows on Saturday and Sunday evening.
Jagmoc said devotees who will experience headaches, colds and fever may approach the Devotee City secretariat to ask for drugs and medicines, and even vitamins for their children.
Pacaña said the Devotee City was made possible in coordination with the Aboitiz Transport which was the one that provided the container vans, together with the Visayan Electric Company and Metro Cebu Water District which provided the free electricity and water.
Policemen from the Waterfront Police Station and some crime watch volunteers will be assigned to guard the Devotee City for 24 hours until the “check out” on Monday noon. — Rene U. Borromeo/WAB (THE FREEMAN)