Cebu City eyes changes for Holy Week preps due to bad weather

In this 2016 photo, children play amid the life-size statues in the Tanchan Celestial Garden in Banawa, Cebu City, where many faithful go to pray the Stations of the Cross during the Holy Week | CDN FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City government on Monday, April 11 said they were open to making any changes to the guidelines for the observance of Holy Week. 

Mayor Michael Rama, during Monday’s press conference, said that they might modify their plans for Holy Week, especially with threats of another major weather disturbance.  

“That being the case, I don’t mind that there should be some changes, especially we would like to have… everyone protected,” said Rama. 

Parts of Visayas and Mindanao have been experiencing non-stop rains since April 6 due to Tropical Depression Agaton (international name: Megi).

Agaton has been in an almost stationary state since it intensified into a Low-Pressure Area (LPA) to a tropical depression, bringing continuous rains over Eastern and Central Visayas. 

Rama has earlier declared suspension of work and face-to-face classes starting Monday as bad weather lingers. 

While Agaton is forecasted to dissipate by April 14, state meteorologists are also monitoring another major weather disturbance outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). 

Tropical Storm Malakas, however, may not make any landfall in the Philippines, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported in their latest forecast. 

“Malakas is forecast to continue tracking generally northwestward and enter Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight or tomorrow early morning,” Pagasa said. 

“A deceleration while turning north-northwestward is expected tomorrow morning while inside the PAR. Its duration within the PAR region will likely be short as it is expected to exit the region by tomorrow evening or Wednesday early morning,” they added.

In the meantime, Rama said the city government and police were already preparing for the long holiday next week. 

“We already have the template. It’s now a matter of continuously enhancing (the guidelines), and more or less expanding (some protocols),” he explained. 

Cebu City is currently under Alert Level 1, the most lenient form of community quarantine. 

For the observation of Holy Week this April 13 to April 17, the city government is considering easing several restrictions such as allowing the return of crowd-gathering events such as processions. 

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