The sound system has been tested and mounted.
Large LED video screens, and about 30 tents of the Cebu city government are set up.
With the sun shining for the past two days, and gravel layered on puddles the 27-hectare lot in the South Road Properties is ready as venue for the Statio Orbis or closing Mass of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress at 4 p.m. today.
About one million people are expected to gather for the open air Mass to be presided by papal legate Charles Maung Cardinal Bo.
Refurbishing of the Pedro Calungsod templete was completed yesterday.
SRP manager Roberto “Bo” Varquez said they are “85 percent ready” for today’s Statio Orbis.
“I’m sure with this sunny and dry weather, this lot will be completely dry,” Varquez told Cebu Daily News yesterday.
The public was advised to be at the venue well before the scheduled 3 p.m. arrival of delegates in order to prevent traffic.
“We are not closing any major roads, which is why we call on everyone to be early and not contribute to traffic jams,” said SRP manager Bo Varquez said.
After the Mass, there will be a fireworks display by the 2013 Berlin Pyronale champions Dragon Fireworks.
Nearby malls and facilities are willing to open early and close late.
“SM Seaside will open at 8 a.m. on the Mass day to allow those from the province who have nowhere to go to wait at SM Seaside until the Mass starts at 4 p.m.,” Varquez said.
SM Seaside won’t close until most of the crowd will have left after the Mass, he said. SM’s parking lot can accommodate 3,000 light vehicles.
The fair grounds of the Kasadya sa SRP will also be opened in the morning for additional parking space to accommodate those coming from Cebu’s southern towns.
The Compania Maritima parking lot will also be available to those coming from Cebu’s north.
The city government used suction equipment and backhoes provided by Dakay Construction to drain most of the floodwater in the past few days.
Florante Valeriano, on-site foreman of Dakay Construction said they poured finer construction gravel called “basalto” on areas across the lot that are prone to flooding.
Fr. Brian Brigoli, IEC chairman of the venue committee said the chairs, tents, tables and other pieces required for Holy Mass will be transported to SRP after the First Communion event that took place yesterday afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The 27-hectare lot has been divided into 24 blocks with different parishes and groups assigned for each space.
The two major blocks in front of the templete is reserved for IEC delegates, the bishops and the choir.
There will be a 1.2-hectare fenced area for official delegates in front of the templete or the stage.
On the west side of the stage is a a 2,769-sqm. restricted area for bishops and the priests.
On the east side of the stage, bleachers were installed for the 2,400-strong choir.
The rest of the 22 blocks are divided into four zones for the general public which include schools (west of the priests and bishops), parishes (behind the delegates, fenced area), covenanted communities (west side, near the west entrance), pilgrims from other parts of the country and local participants.
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