AUTHORITIES have prepared an emergency management plan in case a disaster strikes during the Sinulog festivities.
Organizers said they have prepared a recorded advisory to pacify the crowd and instruct them on what to do in case disasters like an earthquake occurs during the Sinulog grand parade on Jan. 19.
Alternative places for judging are also being prepared to accommodate the contingents in case heavy rains would make the Sinulog stage unusable.
Alvin Santillana, operations head of the Cebu City Risk Reduction Management Council, said the recorded advisory will be played at the Cebu City Sports Center grandstand where at least 15,000 people are expected to converge for the judging of Sinulog participants.
As agreed during the Sinulog organizing committee meeting, the recorded advisory will also be aired on radio stations covering the Sinulog to pacify spectators along the six-kilometer route of the grand parade.
The Cebu Contractors Association will put up additional exit points for use of grandstand occupants in case of an emergency, said Santillana.
The grandstand bleachers has two stairways located on both ends. The VIP section has two steel staircases on both sides and facing the grandstand stage.
Color-coded areas
“The sports center already has emergency exits pero dili ni enough. Cebu Contractors (helping in the Sinulog preparations) will be putting up additional exits on the sides of the grandstand. We will also be assigning safety engineers and city disaster personnel at the different color-coded areas of the grandstand to guide evacuation if there is a need to do so,” said Santillana.
As this developed, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama named the Cebu Coliseum and the sports centers in barangays Sawang Calero, San Nicolas and Tinago as alternative judging areas for Sinulog participants in case heavy rains will make the sports center stage impossible to use on Sinulog day.
“Ug dili gyud ma pugngan ang uwan, we must have to prepare other judging areas,” he said.
Prayers
Rama is asking the people to help pray for a fair weekend weather.
“Its all about miracles. But under worst case scenario, we must also prepare,” he said.