Street party, liquor ban for Sinulog to remain

Both the liquor ban and the ban on street parties will be enforced anew in next year’s Sinulog, both Cebu City and police officials said yesterday.

“Dako kaayo og natabang (the party and liquor ban). Sayo kay na ablihan ang dalan ug sayo kaayo ta nakapanglimpyo (It was a big help. We were able to open the roads early after the grand parade and we were able to clean the streets early),” Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said.

Tumulak, chairman of the Sinulog 2018 executive committee, said these restrictions including the cell site shutdown helped ensure peace and order during the Sinulog celebration.

The councilor wants to expand the liquor and street party ban during the Sinulog next year.

Tumulak said there were bars along the route that violated the liquor ban.

He said he will submit a report to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña who will decide on what to do with these outlets.

“Ato pani palapdan ang radius. Dako kaayo og advantage pagpatuman ani ug dili sad hasol sa side sa kapolisan (We will make it wider. It has been a big advantage to us especially on the side of the police),” Tumulak said.

Senior Supt. Julian Entoma, acting Cebu City police chief, agreed saying that a cell site shutdown should be enforced during next year’s Sinulog.

“Naay mga kakulian pero atong na tapakan. Ug sunod tuig ato nana ma-solve (There were lapses but we recovered from it. Next year we will resolve it),” Entoma said.

He admitted that some police personnel were lax in crowd control and they will rectify it in next year’s celebration.

Entoma said steel railings are better at cordoning the crowd.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña thanked everyone who helped make the Sinulog celebration a success.

He said this year was among the best in recent memory due to the efforts of stakeholders to ensure that it is peaceful and orderly.