THE seaborne procession of the images of the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe was generally peaceful and orderly this year, as authorities barred a hundred unregistered seacraft from joining the activity.
It was also perfect weather as rain did not fall on Cebu early morning, Saturday, Jan. 19.
Lt. Junior Grade Michael John Encina, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Central Visayas, said unregistered motorbancas and other vessels were contained along the South Channel near the South Road Properties (SRP) while the procession was ongoing.
“As a whole, it was very peaceful. Our effort in preventing the colorum motorbancas from joining the procession worked out,” he told SunStar Cebu in an interview.
Encina said the development would serve as a lesson for the operators of unregistered seacraft to register them if they decide to join the seaborne procession.
The PCG estimated around 220 big and small seacraft turned up for the seaborne procession, but only 93 were registered.
Apart from that, 46 sea marshals from the PCG, Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police and Maritime Police, among other volunteers, secured all those who joined the sea procession.
Encina said they implemented stricter measures when it came to unregistered vessels as they want all those who will participate in the seaborne procession next year to register for their own safety.
“Although there was no threat, we have implemented stringent maritime safety and security regulations in the conduct of the procession for public safety,” he said.
During the procession, those aboard the unregistered motorbancas only got the chance to see the images of Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe when mv Super Joy of Roble Shipping Inc., the simulated galleon carrying the two images, turned around Barangay Pasil and the SRP area.
During the seaborne procession early morning, a person on board one of the participating vessels fell into the waters, but was immediately rescued by a team from the Naval Special Operations Group and other sea marshals.
Although the galleon left 15 minutes later than the scheduled time, the procession finished on time, Encina said.
The galleon left the Muelle Osmeña in Lapu-Lapu City at 6:15 a.m. and arrived in Pier 1 at 7:35 a.m.
Aside from those who boarded the vessels, thousands of devotees flocked to areas where the galleon passed including the seaside area in Lapu-Lapu City, Ouano Wharf and a nearby private property in Mandaue City and in different ports in Cebu City.
The Naval Forces Central also allowed devotees to board five of its vessels while others chose to stay in the Captain Veloso Pier of the military and watch the galleon pass by the area. RVC