Bridge set for closure during pilgrims’ walk

CEBU, Philippines - Half of Mandaue City’s Ouano Avenue leading to the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge will be closed to motorists afternoon of January 28 to make way for the pilgrims’ walk of at least 3,000 youths from Lapu-Lapu City.

The event is the highlight of the International Eucharistic Congress Youth Day which will be jointly hosted by the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. It is part of the activities lined up for the 51st IEC which Cebu is hosting from January 24 to 31.

Glenn Antigua, operations chief of Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, yesterday told reporters that the road closure will take effect at 2 p.m. or two hours before the start of the walk. It will be lifted at 6 p.m.

Antigua said during this period, only the delegates and vehicles coming from Mactan Island can use the old bridge. Those who are going to the island will have to pass through the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, he said.

Only half of the Ouano Avenue, meanwhile, will be open to vehicular traffic, specifically for those coming from Cebu City. This half will be made into a two-way lane as the right lane will be exclusively used by the youth delegates.

The delegates will walk from the Hoopsdome in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu- Lapu City up to Mandani Bay at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue.

Antigua said they will be posting traffic advisory on this matter in a few days so that motorists will be informed.

Mandaue ready

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Police Office is already bracing for the influx of delegates next week.

MCPO acting director Senior Superintendent Jonathan Cabal said 146 police personnel from their office will be deployed to different strategic areas, including venues of IEC-related events and hotels where the guests will be billeted.

“Ready na ang Mandaue City with regard sa IEC,” said Cabal, adding that he is glad of the local government’s support for the police.

Cabal said they have tapped the barangay tanods and non-government organizations to help them secure the delegates.

Yesterday morning, the Mandaue City government lent its 10 patrol cars from the different barangays for police use during IEC events.

Although he just assumed office last Thursday, Cabal said he played a part in the security preparations and implementation for the Papal Visit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in January and November, respectively, last year.

The security for the IEC is no different from these two, he said.

However, he said it should not only be during events like the IEC that a police office shows its force. “It should be every day,” he said.

“Di lang naman dapat sa IEC lang ipakita ang best practices (of the PNP), but also sa daily grind. Like if we have a good patrol system, it comes naturally if we have an event like IEC,” he said. (FREEMAN)