ROADS in downtown Cebu City will still be closed during the Sinulog Festival on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, despite that venue being at the South Road Properties (SRP).
Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) head Raquel Arce told SunStar Cebu Sunday, Jan. 8, that they are still anticipating revelers to flock to other areas in the city.
Osmeña Blvd. will be closed to vehicular traffic starting from Fuente Osmeña Circle to the Basilica del Santo Niño.
However, major intersections on Colon and P. del Rosario Streets will still be open to motorists.
Arce said the roads will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. and are expected to be opened at dawn on Monday, Jan. 16.
The roads will not be opened immediately since the CCTO is also expecting spectators of the grand parade at the SRP to transfer to the downtown area once the festival is finished, she said.
Arce further said traffic advisories have been posted as far as Carcar City in the south and Danao City in the north to warn motorists of the road closures and rerouting.
The SRP will be closed to vehicles starting at 5 a.m. on Jan. 15, but there are access roads for people wanting to witness the festival.
The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway will still be open since one lane of the F. Vestil Road is still passable during the Sinulog, said Arce.
Meanwhile, public utility vehicles coming from the Plaza Independencia can only unload their passengers on F. Vestil Road.
Arce added that for commuters coming from the south, a temporary terminal will be placed beside the Il Corso Mall.
The CCTO has also implemented a “no day off policy” among its personnel since Jan. 5 to ensure that there will be enough manpower during the entire duration of the Fiesta Señor and Sinulog Festival.
Around 100 CCTO personnel will be deployed in the SRP, while another 150 traffic enforcers will be stationed on major roads outside the Sinulog venue.