Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo, secretary general of the 2016 IEC, (2nd from left) with Margie Matheu of the IEC Secretariat meet with a City Hall working committee to discuss their preparations. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
HEAVY traffic can be expected in major thoroughfares in Cebu City starting next week until the end of January for the Sinulog and the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), Cebu City Hall officials said.
City officials and representatives of the Cebu Archdiocese met yesterday to discuss updates on IEC preparations.
A final traffic scheme is still being finalized for the duration of the IEC on Jan. 24 to 31.
Last month, a dry run was held for a traffic scheme where part of Pope John Paul II Avenue was off limits to private vehicles where the IEC Pavilion is located.
Only public vehicles were allowed to ply the road.
This plan will still be adjusted after the Archdiocese submitted its own traffic plan consisting of five routes for buses that will ferry delegates from their accommodations to the venues for the IEC activities.
Tumulak said specific rerouting schemes will be followed in areas where venues for IEC activities are located.
On January 24, Sunday, the opening Mass for IEC will be held at Plaza Independencia at 4 p.m.
Some roads around the plaza will be closed.
A first communion activity will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Road closures will be implemented along Leon Kilat St. to N. Bacalso Ave. and from P. Del Rosario St. To Junquera St.
On January 29, a Friday, a mass will be celebrated in front of the Cebu Provincial Capitol followed by a large religious procession to Plaza Independencia.
The roads in front of the Capitol will be closed as early as 1 a.m. that day.
The closing Mass on Jan. 31, Sunday, will be celebrated at the Calungsod templete area in the South Road Properties (SRP).
“For SRP, we are still studying what traffic scheme to use there knowing that SM Seaside City has just opened,” said Joy Tumulak, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) operations chief.
He encouraged people who may get stuck in traffic and forced to walk to consider it as a form of penitence in solidarity with the IEC, which is expected to bring in 15,000 local and international delegates.
Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo told reporters the church requested the city government for assistance in managing traffic, garbage collection, and security among others.
Tumulak reminded motorists to check the condition of their vehicles so that they won’t bog down on the road and cause more traffic.”
“We in CCTO will make sure that even if there is traffic, it will still be moving,” he said.