Despite crowd control challenges: More events to be held at CCSC

CEBU, Philippines — Despite the challenges posed by the massive crowd during the "Sinulog is Back" free concert, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia assured the public that this will not be the last event held at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

“I assure you that this will not be the last,” Garcia declared during the concert on Thursday, January 16.

The mayor made the statement after witnessing the overwhelming turnout at the CCSC, where tens of thousands of concertgoers gathered to enjoy performances by their favorite artists.

“Nalipay ko nga na-enjoy mong tanan. Sinulog is for all Cebuanos, and we should enjoy our own fiesta…We have to celebrate Sinulog, where our soul is, and that is in the center of Cebu,” Garcia said.

The event drew an estimated crowd of 30,000, with an additional 5,000 to 7,000 unable to enter due to congestion, according to Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) chief, retired fire marshal Aderson Comar.

“Smooth ra ang dagan, hapsay ang pamaagi sa entrance and exit, although naay mga atat kaayo nga nagdali musulod kay ilang mga idol nisugod na’g kanta… Ang uban tua pa’s gawas. Dunay tukmod-tukmod gamay, but manageable,” Comar said.

At least 42 individuals, mostly young people, required medical attention after feeling dizzy or fainting due to the heavy crowd. Comar noted that some had not eaten dinner, which contributed to their condition. Three individuals were rushed to St. Vincent Hospital and the Cebu City Medical Center for further assessment but were later discharged.

The concert was briefly halted to address crowd control issues when some attendees outside the venue became agitated.

Acknowledging the challenges, Garcia admitted they had underestimated the turnout for the free concert.

“We realize nga grabe gyud diay kaayo if we hold big events such as that,” he said.

To improve future events, Garcia suggested utilizing open spaces around the CCSC and installing LED walls to accommodate spectators outside the venue. He also proposed repositioning the stage to maximize the available space, noting that the back portion of the stage inside the venue remained unused.

“This will not be the last because we are planning activities for next [month], because next month is the month of love, and more importantly, it is also the month of Charter Celebrations,” Garcia revealed.

Reconsidering Ticketing System

The mayor also addressed concerns about the ticketing system, which was implemented to manage the crowd. Garcia is considering scrapping the ticketing system for future events and adopting a first-come, first-served basis instead.

Earlier, Garcia ordered an investigation into alleged illegal sales of tickets for the free concert. Councilor Joel Garganera is leading an investigation.

While some have suggested holding concerts at the South Road Properties (SRP), where previous Sinulog celebrations were hosted, Garcia expressed openness to the idea. However, he pointed out that transportation challenges make SRP less ideal for many attendees.

“Wa gyud ko mubawal sa atong organizers, private organizers [to utilize the SRP grounds]…I am very much open to that so that we can disperse the people,” Garcia said.

Despite this, the mayor reiterated his preference for hosting events at the CCSC.

“I am still very much inclined to holding it in the city of Cebu because I have been getting feedback, one year or another, that Sinulog this year has become more festive, more alive,” he said.

Police assessment

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) officer-in-charge Police Colonel Enrico Figueroa estimated the crowd at 20,000 and reported minimal incidents during the event.

“Natapos natin ang event na payapa at ligtas ang mga umattend,” Figueroa said, adding that issues near the entrance were immediately addressed. (CEBU NEWS)