CEBU, Philippines — At least 2,500 individuals are expected to avail of the free accommodation the Cebu City government is providing at the Devotee City.
Devotee City, located in the open space of Compania Maritima, is an annual project of the city and provincial governments of Cebu. For this year, the city has allocated P1.7 million for the project, including the rentals of the container vans that will be used as temporary shelter.
Cebu City Councilor Phillip Zafra, who is in-charge of the project, said they are still negotiating with 2GO for the rental of the needed container vans. Zafra said 2GO is renting out the vans at P4,000 each but they are able to haggle for P2,000 each. Zafra said they are still hoping to get it for free.
Stricter guidelines will be observed in accommodating devotees this year because of the past experiences that most of those who stayed in the Devotee City are merchants.
“I have been observing that in the past many of those ni avail sa atong Devotee City are merchants, meaning mga negosyante,” said Zafra.
Zafra said the city government will make sure that real devotees are given priority. He said they have reached out to the different parishes outside of the city to inform them about the devotee city.
“I am really encouraging kadtong mga tinuod gyud na deboto, mao gyud ato hatagan og priority na maka avail sa atong devotee city. Kay ma-defeat ang purpose kung mga negosyante ra ang naa dira,” said Zafra.
Zafra said a registration booth will be set up where the devotees can sign up if they wish to stay in the devotee city. All registered devotees will be given identification cards. Zafra, however, said that merchants may still be accommodated but they are last priority.
Personnel from the Department of Public Services will be deployed at the devotee city to maintain the cleanliness, especially the portable toilets. Last year, 60 container vans as well as tents for devotees were installed.
The provincial government conducted a pre-registration for transients so that they can be accommodated immediately upon their arrival in the city.
The Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) handled the registration of transients. Upon registration, the occupants had to submit bus tickets that would certify that they are living beyond Carcar City in the southern part of Cebu and beyond Danao City in the north. FPL (FREEMAN)