City Hall clears Compania Maritima lot for Devotee City

Portable toilets are set up in a vacant lot for the Devotee City in this year’s Sinulog near the Compania Maritima building. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

CEBU City Hall yesterday started setting up empty container vans in a vacant lot near the Compania Maritima building to house pilgrims who come for the Sto. Niño fiesta or the Sinulog.

Every year, for three days, the Devotee City, shelters transients from other towns and provinces who can’t afford to book a pension house or lack relatives to host them.

“We expect 3,000 devotees here,” said Councilor Robert Cabarrubias , pointman for the temporary lodging.

The Devotee City will receive transients from January 15 to January 17.

The vacant lot was recently occupied by vans-for-hire (V-hires) that had transferred there after the closure of the One Citilink terminal.

The V-hires have been transferred temporarily to the back of the Senior Citizens Park across City Hall.

About 130 container vans were loaned from 2Go Shipping Lines.

The vans will be set up next week in a square formation with one entry and one exit point.

Five tents will also be set up for spillover transients.

The area will have 30 portable toilets with a portable shower.

Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) will supply potable water for the three-day stay.

A cooking area outside the vans will be provided to avoid fire outbreaks.

Devotees will not be allowed to cook food inside the container van.

Two days of entertainment are being prepared as well.

A variety show will be held on the first day by different barangays from 8 a.m to 10 p.m.

On the second day, Cabarrubias said Julie’s Bakeshop will organize a raffle with prizes like small appliances.

Devotees will only be allowed to sleep in the area until Sunday.

By Monday morning, 2Go Shipping Lines will start pulling out their container vans and returning them to Pier 4.