CEBU, Philippines - While the Compania Maritima grounds will provide temporary shelter to devotees of the Santo Niño during the Sinulog, the transfer of the passenger terminal, which was located at the compound has inconvenienced drivers and passengers.
The Maritima compound is located near the Cebu City Hall in downtown Cebu City. It also accommodated the Devotee City last year but later in 2015, it accommodated the v-hire terminal after the city government closed down the Citilink Terminal along P. del Rosario Street.
With the Devotee City reopening for the Sinulog, the v-hire terminal has to be moved to a lot at the back of the Senior Citizens Park.
The new location is not very far from Compania Maritima but a v-hire operator told The Freeman the distance is enough to confuse passengers.
“Naguol ko sa mga pasahero mangasaag… hasol sa among part… hasol sad sa part sa mga mosakay,” he said.
He said he also noticed that fewer passengers would go to the new location because only a handful of jeepneys pass the area.
A passenger shared the sentiment but told The Freeman he is willing to sacrifice for now to accommodate the devotees from out of town.
“Para man sad ni sa Devotee City sa kasaulogan sa Sinulog… agwantahon nalang namo bisag suok ug gamay kaayo ang lugar,” he said.
City Administrator Dr. Lucelle Mercado is also asking for understanding from commuters.
“Ako lang hangyo nila, antos lang gyud ta gamay, sakripisyo lang sa ta sa pagkakaron kay in fairness, wala baya sila gipangayoan og fees, everything is free and para sad ni sa mga pilgrims nga makatultol asa sila mag-stay kay same raman gihapon last year ang place. It would be an advantage on their part,” Mercado said.
She said it is possible that the terminal will remain at its temporary location until the International Eucharistic Congress at the end of the month.
“Yes, it’s possible nga ma-extend so that it would be continuous for the upcoming event which is the IEC, but we are not sure… it depends on the mayor,” Mercado said.
This week, the city government will clear Maritima grounds to prepare for the arrival of at least 130 empty container vans next week.
The container vans will be used as temporary shelter for the pilgrims from out of town.
“This week, it will have to be in a ground zero (state.) We will have to clean the area because next week, we will start on installing the 130 units of container vans from a private shipping company,” said Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, chairman of the Devotee City program.
An engineer, Cabarrubias said the container vans will be piled in an orderly fashion into organized rooms. One van can accommodate up to 20 individuals.
Makeshift shower rooms and outdoor cooking area will also be provided at the compound. It will start receiving pilgrims five days before the Fiesta Señor on January 17.
Earlier, Cabarrubias convened concerned stakeholders particularly the companies that will provide free meals, among others.
The idea for a Devotee City was initiated by former councilor Fe Mantua-Ruiz in the 1980s. The Plaza Independencia also accommodated the Devotee City in the past. (FREEMAN)