Security was tight and emergency response systems were put to a test as police and military personnel rushed to two alerts at the height of yesterday’s Sinulog festivities.
At 10 a.m., police rushed to the Cebu City Sports Center after an unattended bag was found at the exit area of the sports center.
The AFP Central Command bomb squad and their K-9 unit responded and checked the bag which later found to contain a stick of lipstick and junk food.
At 5:30 p.m., another unattended bag also prompted security forces to rush to the YMCA building along the Osmena Boulevard. The bomb squad however only found a water bottle inside the bag.
OPLAN SINULOG
The Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) implemented the “Oplan Sinulog”.
They issued special permits to 80 jeepneys and buses that are exclusively used for commuters going to South Road Properties (SRP) and other terminals designated for Sinulog purposes.
Ahmed Cuizon, LTFRB regional director, said 80 jeepneys and buses were issued special permits.
“They can be identified through stickers that we issued in coordination with Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Cebu City Traffice Operations Management (CITOM), he said.
Private vehicles, buses and minibuses from south made to stop/park at Citom-designated areas in SRP.
There, PUJs by Citrasco will fetch the passengers towards senior citizens’ park behind Cebu City hall where they may then walk towards Sinulog parade route.
Revelers took jeepney rides at the Senior Citizens Park for them to get back to the SRP for their cars or to take buses headed towards south of province.
Those bound for south of city, PUJs parked at Bible Baptist Church in Katipunan St. picked them up.
For the north-bound passengers, Ceres buses fetched them at M.J. Cuenco Ave. infront of Museo Sugbo (the old provincial jail).
These buses turned left at T. Padilla Extension towards White Gold, SM City and North Bus Terminal.
Fare for PUJ was P7.50 while bus fare was at P10.