Top cop favors holiday declaration for 51st IEC

CEBU, Philippines - Central Visayas’ top police official yesterday morning said he is amenable to having the weeklong International Eucharistic Congress in January declared a holiday, saying it would lessen traffic during those days.

“Kung kami lang ay mas gusto namin yon kasi walang traffic at hindi masyadong magulo ang Cebu City,” said Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas.

The Police Regional Office-7 director told a press conference that traffic is a common problem in the country if the request for a holiday declaration is approved, there will be fewer vehicles in the city, making it easier for authorities to manage the event.

Bañas, though, said that while a holiday might help in lessening traffic volume in Cebu City, it would also adversely affect businesses because they would pay twice the normal daily wage for their workers.

“It (holiday declaration) should be addressed comprehensively because some of the business sectors kay nangreklamo na nga bisa’g business, holiday gihapon, but they have to open, eh double pay yon, kawawa naman,” he said.

He also said that holiday or not it is their duty to secure the 51st EIC delegates.

Bañas said they will use the same security template that they used during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings held in Cebu recently for the IEC.

An estimated 15,000 delegates are expected to attend the IEC, bigger than the 3,200 delegates who attended the APEC meetings.

He also said they would likewise be responsible in securing the IEC  Masses at the Cebu City Sports Center and at the Capitol, youth congress in Lapu-Lapu City, and an overnight camp in Mandaue City.

“We should be more prepared for this event because this is not just an event, this is an International event,” said Bañas. —(FREEMAN)