Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday explained his decision to remove obstructions along the six-kilometer carousel route for the Sinulog Grand Parade, saying it would reduce the risk of a stampede.
Rama said he intends to again enforce that same policy with a few “enhancements”.
The mayor was reacting to a statement attributed to Lordino Verga, chairperson of the board of judges for the street dancing event, who said this year’s Sinulog was the “worst” he has seen in the eight years he’s been judging the street dancing competition.
Verga said the removal of barriers and the absence of security personnel along the carousel route congested the roads and made dancing difficult for the contingents.
The mayor disagreed with his observation.
“They’re wrong. It’s comfortable for the people,” Rama said when sought to comment on Verga’s statement. He said he had the barriers removed and the bleachers transferred outside of the sidewalks to give room for spectators. But he admitted that they failed to totally implement a plan to put up ropes to cordon the dance area.
The Cebu Contractors Association which was tasked to put up the ropes only managed to do so along Imus Road up to Fuente Osmeña. Rama said the contractors had difficulty setting the ropes on Saturday because of the huge crowd during the solemn procession.
He said he would augment the number of student volunteers to guard the parade route in next year’s Sinulog.
Sinulog Foundation executive director Ricky Ballesteros however, proposed to deploy uniformed personnel (soldiers or policemen) instead of student volunteers.
The mayor again disagreed with the observation.
“I still believe that keeping the students there is still a very sound move, we just have to augment them. I should know because I was also a student volunteer,” Rama said.
The mayor meanwhile, called on enterprising businessmen to follow the lead of Cebu-based International Pharmaceutical Inc. which put up pay restrooms in the uptown area.
A restaurant in Fuente Osmena restricted the entry of people into their establishment and posted a “No receipt, No CR” sign on its doors during the Sinulog. “CR” refers to comfort room, a Filipino term for toilet. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Edison delos Angeles