AT least 50,000 people joined the mass oathtaking of officials under the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Plaza Independencia yesterday.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino said that despite the huge crowd, the political event was peaceful.
Espino said they did not monitor any incident in the nearby areas while the event was ongoing in Cebu City.
“So far, during the event, we did not monitor any untoward incident. Many of our policemen were deployed here to maintain peace and order,” Espino said.
Aside from those from the city, supporters from nearby cities and towns like Talisay, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Carcar, Naga, Consolacion and Liloan added to the head count.
Most of them wore white shirts marked “Cebu loves PDP-Laban,” which they said were given to them by their officials who joined the oathtaking.
Aside from the shirts, food like bread and water were also distributed to some of those who attended yesterday’s activity.
A delegation from Lapu-Lapu City also got pails, which were given to them them along with the food. One of the supporters, who requested anonymity, said the food was placed inside the pails.
“Inig hurot sa pagkaon, amoa na ang balde (After eating we can keep the pails),” she said.
The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) monitored heavy traffic within the venue caused by vehicles arriving and leaving the area.
CCTO did not close any road near the venue yesterday.
CCTO Operations Chief Francisco Ouano said that despite the congestion, they were able to manage it because they deployed enough personnel.
At least 157 passenger buses were issued special permits to ferry participants to the oath-taking from different towns and cities in Cebu Province yesterday.
But the commuters were not inconvenienced because there were about 950 buses and minibuses operating in Cebu Province, said Julie Flores, president of the Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association (CSMBOA).
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said that of the 157 buses, 84 special permits were issued last Monday to Vallacar Transit, operator of the Ceres buses.
“The 157 is not even 20 percent of the total number of buses in Cebu. Naay diyotay nga kanihit apan dili ingon ka grabe (There was no shortage of buses),” said Cuizon.
Flores, operator of JBH Bus Liner, said that 15 of his 20 buses were issued special permits by LTFRB. Seven were used for Barili, while eight were used for Tuburan. (RVC , SCG of Superbalita)