Schedule is final: Mike rejects Gwen’s plea

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has rejected the request of Cebu Province to move the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan at a later date to give contingents more time to prepare.

The mayor said the January 13 schedule is already final.

“No, it cannot be (moved). Cannot be,” said Rama, who is the overall Sinulog chairman.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia asked that the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, which the Capitol will be hosting at the Cebu City Sports Center, be moved to January 19 to give the towns participating in the competition more time to prepare.

According to Rama, there are other Sinulog-related activities already scheduled on January 19--among them is the Sinulog Festival Queen competition at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The mayor is also concerned of the traffic since Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan requires road closure and it cannot be done on a busy day like Friday.

Rama, however, said the city government is willing to support the needs of the contingents from the province. He said they just need the final list of the number of contingents that need a place for billeting.

Rama confirmed that he has assigned Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia as city government’s liaison for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan.

So far, at least 17 local government units from Cebu Province have signified their participation in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, including the Sugat Kabanhawan Festival of Minglanilla, Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023 grand champion, as guest performer.

Minglanilla will be joined by the governor and other Capitol officials in their performance in honor of the Santo Niño.

The different contingents from Cebu Province decided to compete in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan instead of the Sinulog grand showdown on January 21 amid Rama’s insistence to hold the grand parade at the South Road Property (SRP).

Citing safety of the contingents, the governor and the mayors from the province asked that the Sinulog grand showdown be held at the Cebu City Sports Center. According to them, the SRP is not yet ready for the big event.

Rama, who conducted a walkthrough at the SRP yesterday, said the venue will be ready in two weeks. The mayor said he was assured by Engineer Ricky Dakay, chairman of the executive committee of Sinulog Foundation, the grandstand and the entire venue will be finished on time.

“That in two weeks, the stage is already in place…including asphalting, cementing, and the grandstand, rain or no rain and that will be finished,” Rama told the media during a press conference.

Rama and the officials of Sinulog Foundation Inc., however, are still mum on the number of contingents. The mayor said they will announce, formally, the number of contingents during the official launch of Sinulog on January 12.

Meanwhile, Rama has ordered the removal of road separators installed along the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane. City Administrator Collin Rosell said the road separators should be removed to ensure public safety.

“Tangtangon na kay makapandol na ug uban pa nga disgrasya nga mahitabo nya ana, di sad maklaro ang pag-agi,” said Rosell.

Rosell said all road separators must be removed before the religious processions.

Previously, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño announced that the routes for Walk with Jesus and Walk with Mary as well as the solemn foot procession will not be the same as last year because of the BRT project along the stretch of Osmeña Boulevard.

But Rama opposed any change of the procession route just because of the BRT project. — (FREEMAN)