Devotee City opens on Friday for at least 3,000 transients
THE Devotee City for transients will open this Friday near the Compania Maritima to accommodate an expected 3,000 visitors from towns and cities outside Cebu City and province.
A total of 120 container vans stacked one on top of the other are on loan from 2Go Shipping Lines as free temporary shelters for transients who are here for the the Sinulog 2016 and the celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño.
Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the city government expects most of the transients to come from Bogo and Danao cities in the north and Carcar City in the south.
Each container van can accommodate at least 10 families.
After presenting their bus or boat ticket, they will be assigned a container where they can stay until Monday.
Portable toilets, showers, a cooking area and electricity are provided by the Cebu City government and partners.
The Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) set up water stations and assured continuous water supply for drinking, cooking and sanitation.
The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) will also provide two telephone lines with a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) for Internet and a Wi-Fi Free Zone so devotees can contact relatives who are at home.
Medical services will also be provided by the Cebu City Health Department and the Cebu City Medical Center.
The area is secured by Cebu City police and barangay tanods from San Roque, Ermita and Sto. Niño.
Trash collection and sanitation services will also be provided by the city.
The Devotee City, an annual project of the city government, caters to low-income transients who can’t afford to stay in pension houses or don’t have relatives to host them in Cebu City during the Sinulog.
The temporary shelters are available for three nights.
By Monday morning, the occupants have to leave.
The van owners in 2Go will pull out their containers and return them to Pier 4.
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