THE asphalting of roads leading to the venue of the Sinulog Grand Parade and Ritual Showdown at the South Road Properties (SRP) on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, has faced delays due to intermittent weather, but a Cebu City official assured that all preparations are on schedule.
Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the committee on infrastructure told reporters on Sunday, Jan. 8, the asphalting of road pavements is already 85 percent finished but work had to be halted due to the incessant rain.
Despite this setback, Guardo said personnel from the Department of Engineering and Public Works are overlaying filling materials to address the muddy situation at the venue.
The materials are concrete debris from the demolished White Gold building on General Maxilom Avenue.
According to Guardo, around 100 trucks of filling materials will be used to cover the muddy portion.
“Dili man ta ka aspalto gyud basta mag-ulan. Maanugon kay mabungkag ra ang aspalto, dili ka compact kaayo. Ang yuta sad lapok, so dili maayo ang compaction,” he said.
(We cannot asphalt when it rains. It will be wasted because it will not compact after pouring. The ground too is muddy so the compaction is not very good.)
However, Guardo assured that all asphalting work will be completed not later than Thursday, Jan. 12.
The councilor said he cannot give updates on the ongoing construction of the stage and the amphitheater-type grandstand since this is being handled by a private construction company.
Guardo also asked for the public’s understanding since this is the first time that the grand parade and the ritual showdown will be held at the SRP and not in the Cebu City Sports Center.
The City Government decided to move the festival to the SRP for the first time to promote the area to future investors, he said.
“It will be a good venue for us to invite investors, it is the role of the LGU (local government unit) to create an activity to excite investors,” he said.
According to Guardo, the SRP is already positioned as the next investment hub in the city, especially with the ongoing construction of a convention center and sports arena, which will be the biggest in Visayas and Mindanao.