Roads to 7 churches closed for Visita Iglesia

SEVERAL roads leading to some churches in Cebu City will be closed this afternoon for the Visita Iglesia, a side event of the ongoing 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) asked those doing business or having transactions in those areas to finish them earlier in the day.

CCTO operations chief Jonathan “Joy” Tumulak said they will also clear the roads of parked vehicles as early as 5 p.m. for the Visita Iglesia which starts at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.

“We hope the public understands that we have to clear the roads of vehicles for security reasons because we don’t know who owns them and what’s inside the vehicles,” Tumulak said.

Heavy and slow-moving traffic are expected in these roads for the duration of the activity which is divided in two sectors.

Tumulak said the activity will push through rain or shine. He said they weren’t given instructions by IEC organizers to cancel the event if it rains.

“If it rains, we will have to be more cautious since people might not walk on the roads anymore and just stay at the sidewalk for shelter,” Tumulak said.

The first sector includes Our Mother of Perpetual Help-Redemptorist Church, Asilo de la Milagrosa Chapel and the Our Lady of Sacred Heart-Capitol Parish. This means Escario St., Gorordo Ave. F. Sotto Drive leading to Redemptorist and Juana Osmeña St. will be closed.

For the second sector, the roads to be closed include D. Jakosalem St. (from the corner of Gen. Maxilom Ave. to the corner of Osmeña Boulevard); D. Jakosalem corner Legaspi St. to P. Del Rosario corner Pelaez St.; and P. Del Rosario corner Pelaez to P. Del Rosario corner Jakosalem.

The participating churches in the second sector are Sto. Rosario Church; Sacred Heart in D. Jakosalem St., the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

Vehicles parked in the areas by 5 p.m. will be towed and brought to the CCTO’s impounding area in the South Road Properties (SRP).

Owners of towed motorcycles will have to pay P1,500 to P2,000 as fine while owners of other towed vehicles will have to pay P2,500 to P3,000. The event is expected to  end at 10 p.m. at the earliest and the roads will be opened one hour after.