SEVERAL roads surrounding Plaza Independencia in Cebu City will be closed to vehicles today for the opening mass of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).
If you have nothing important to do in these parts of the city, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) asks that you avoid M.J. Cuenco Ave., from M.C. Briones to Legaspi Extension, and Arellano Blvd. as these will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 2 p.m. today.
Hundreds of rows of chairs already filled Plaza Independencia yesterday, as organizers prepared for the mass that will begin the week-long IEC. A theological symposium already took place from Jan. 20 to 22, but the congress proper is starting today.
It will run until Sunday with a mass at the South Road Properties, which is expected to draw at least a million persons.
Atty. Rey Gealon, executive director of CCTO, said he expects the traffic situation in other roads to be manageable, though, considering that today is a Sunday.
“CCTO begs for patience and understanding from everyone who may be affected. Please realize that this minute inconvenience is your contribution to Cebu City’s successful hosting of a once-in-a-lifetime gathering, which is the IEC,” he said.
The closed roads will be accessible again once the activity ends and the crowd disperses, said Gealon.
“Please make your sacrifice as well by abiding by our traffic advisories,” Gealon appealed.
Around 50 personnel will supervise traffic in the area as well as the roads near the venue.
As it will be a week-long activity, Gealon reminded the public that more road closures will be implemented in Cebu City, particularly portions of Pope John Paul II Ave. in Barangay Mabolo, nearest to the IEC Pavilion.
As agreed on by the organizing committee, both sides of a portion of Pope John Paul II Ave. will be closed to vehicular traffic at certain hours of the day while the congress is ongoing.
Starting tomorrow until Sunday, Pope John Paul II Ave. will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to make way for at least 120 buses that will transport IEC delegates to the IEC Pavilion.
Only the stretch from the flyover on Gov. Cuenco Ave. (beside Tesda) to the corner of Cardinal Rosales Ave. (Ayala access road) will be closed.
Thousands of attendees will be in the city starting today for the international religious event.
On Friday, both sides of a portion of Osmeña Blvd., from the corner of Cebu Doctors’ Hospital to the Capitol, will also be closed for a mass.
That will be closed from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On Saturday, both sides of the boulevard, from P. del Rosario St. to R. Landon St., will also be closed for the mass with the first communicants at the Cebu City Sports Center.
A temporary road closure will also be implemented on Lopez Jaena St. from the corner of Mabini St. to M.J. Cuenco Ave. tomorrow, Monday, as some of the delegates will join a heritage tour.
These delegates will visit the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Museum, Jesuit House, Sandiego-Yap House and Basilica del Sto. Niño. That area will be closed from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Msgr. Agustin Ancajas, chairman of the IEC committee on cultural events, wrote the CCTO on the matter to request the closure.
Gealon said he has already approved the request.