CPPO’s Marquez: 800 police officers to secure Pasigarbo celebration

The 29 candidates of Pasigarbo Festival Queen 2019 during press presentation on August 20, Tuesday, at SM Seaside Cebu. Cebu Provincial Police Office has laid out plans to secure the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo celebrations, which will kick off with the Pasigarbo Festival Queen 2019. |CDND Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will deploy around 800 police personnel and force multipliers during the celebration of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbu on August 23, 25 and 26.

The activity will kick-off tomorrow, during the coronation of the Pasigarbo Festival Queen 2019.

In his presentation, Police Lieutenant Colonel Eloveo Marquez, deputy provincial director for operations, said that 62 police personnel would be deployed during the Pasigarbo Festival Queen 2019 on August 23, while 519 police personnel would secure the parade and dance competition on August 24 and 246 police personnel would be deployed during the awarding of winners on August 26.

Read more: Gwen: Admission is free to Pasigarbo ritual dance competition at CCSC

On Sunday, the parade will start at 2 p.m. from the Cebu Provincial Capitol down to the Cebu City Sports Center which will be followed by the dance competition at 4 p.m.

Forty-four cities and municipalities will join the competition this year.

Read more: Meet this year’s Pasigarbo Festival Queen candidates

“Along the 724-meter parade route, there will be police personnel deployed in every 10 meters,” Marquez said.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Eloveo Marquez, Cebu City Police Office deputy provincial director for operations, assures adequate police presence during the Pasigarbo celebrations.| CDN Digital file photo

During the security plan meeting held at the Social Hall in Cebu Provincial Capitol earlier today, different stakeholders attended the activity  which includes Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd)-Cebu City, Local School Board, Provincial, municipal and city tourism officers, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and among others.

Do’s and don’ts for contingents

Tumulak encouraged the contingents to transport their props and backdrops on Saturday or Sunday in the morning, for several roads will be closed during the parade on August 25.

Each LGU will be given five car passes for vehicles transporting contingents and props. The designated parking area for these vehicles is at South Road Properties (SRP).

“Even if that’s a Sunday, I am urging the drivers of these vehicles to still observe traffic rules in order to avoid congestion,” Tumulak said.

He said that traffic signages would be installed during that day, and drop-off for contingents would also be properly identified.

He also reminded contingents to observe proper protocol, while they would be housed in different public schools in Cebu City.

Jerome Misa from DepEd-Cebu City also reminded contingents on the do’s and don’ts inside the schools premises.

Misa said that for safety of the contingents, only ambulances would be the vehicles permitted to park inside the school.

Hand props are also permitted to be stored in the school, but backdrops are prohibited.

Some contingents also raise their concern on whether they are permitted to cook inside the school.

“We will permit them but they have to inform us in advance. Second, it will depend on the school where they are housed. If there are no sufficient area to establish a kitchen, then we will not permit them, especially those who are staying in Abellana and Cebu City Central School,” Misa said.

During the meeting, DepEd has also permitted contingents to have their practice in the school’s gymnasium, given that they will submit their schedules in order to avoid chaos, for some schools are catering up to five contingents.

Some contingents also asked the Cebu Provincial government to give them additional tickets for their props men, make-up artists and support group who will join the activity./dbs