CEBU City Councilor Jerry Guardo believes there is no longer time for a "Plan B" and transfer the venue of the Sinulog 2023 festivities with just few days left before the grand parade on Sunday, January 15, 2023.
Guardo, who chairs the committee on infrastructure, told reporters Thursday, January 12, that all preparations of the Cebu City Government are focused on completing the venue at the South Road Properties (SRP) before Sunday.
It was previously reported that organizers of the Sinulog Festival are still considering the Cebu City Sports Center as the fallback option in the event of extreme weather conditions and the unreadiness of the SRP venue.
But Guardo said the physical activities of the Sinulog Festival, which was postponed for two years because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, will definitely push through at SRP.
"We do not have enough time, dili ingon ana ka dali mo mobilize. All eyes are really focused diri, ang amoang preparations, tanan, including the light system, ang internet signal. So naka focus gyud mi, we are really definite that this will be the venue for the upcoming Sinulog mardi gras," said Guardo.
According to Guardo, the progress of preparing the venue is already at 90 percent, but the councilor clarified that this only pertains to the asphalting of the parade route within the SRP.
What remains to be asphalted is a portion in front of the stage wherein the floats and "higantes" will pass through during the grand parade, he said.
"Mao man gyud na ang issue nga lapok ba, magkalapok ang mga dancers ang mga participants nila, so we have to make sure nga in time for the Sinulog mardi gras nga not a single part or any portion magkalapok ang mga dancers," said Guardo.
Guardo admitted that the incessant rain over the past few days has affected the progress of their work since no asphalting can be done during this kind of weather.
He added that they will be working overtime to make sure that the parade route in the venue will be fully asphalted on Friday, January 13, 2023. (IRT)