Tomas: No drinking, parties along Sinulog route

DRINKING of alcoholic beverages along the Sinulog carousel route will be prohibited from 6 a.m. of January 21 (Sunday) until 6 a.m. of the next day (Monday).

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said anyone caught violating his directive will immediately be detained in temporary detention cells that the police will set up along the six-kilometer route.

“This will be the strictest Sinulog ever because there is a risk and because the trend shows that it is going to get worse (this year),” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said establishments located within the 300-meter radius from the grand parade route that will be caught violating his directive will also be closed.

Councilor Dave Tumulak said City Hall approved only one Sinulog party that will be located at the Cebu Business Park, away from the Sinulog route.
He said organizers also made a commitment to ensure the safety of their partygoers.

Meanwhile, Tumulak said City Hall is tapping the help of civilians and religious group members to make sure that the city will remain safe during the Sinulog grand parade on January 21.

Tumulak, chairman of the Sinulog 2018 Executive Committee, said they need as many people that they could tap to serve as multiplier force during the grand parade that is expected to draw millions of spectators into the city.

This year’s multiplier force that will include vendors, habal-habal drivers, security guards, members of the Muslim communities in the city, religious groups and private sector members will help detect the presence of criminals and other suspicions personalities in the city and immediate report this to the police.

“We are 85 percent ready. All are in place in terms of security preparation,” he said in a press conference at City Hall late on Monday afternoon.

But this early, Tumulak said, he remains uncertain if the police with push with its earlier plan to shut down telecommunications signals during the celebration.

In 2017, cell phone signals were shut down in the city and parts of Cebu during the fluvial procession and solemn procession on January 21 and the grand parade on January 22.