AT LEAST two million spectators are estimated to witness the Sinulog Grand Parade 2023 that will be held at the South Road Properties (SRP) on Sunday, January 15, according to a Cebu City official.
"We are anticipating that not less than two million people will attend considering that this is the comeback of our Sinulog festival after a two-year absence because of the pandemic," said City Councilor Phillip Zafra in a mix of Cebuano and English on Monday, December 12, 2022.
Mayor Michael Rama appointed Zafra, chairman of the committee on peace and order, as chairman of the executive committee of the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated.
Zafra said 3,000 members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be deployed to the venue to secure participants and spectators.
He said the number does not include force multipliers that the City Government will assign to help authorities.
The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) will close the road crossing the SRP from the SM Seaside City to the border of Talisay City starting at 12:01 a.m. of January 15.
Zafra urged the CCTO to coordinate with traffic offices of local government units so there will only be one traffic plan during the celebration.
He said the CCTO should come up with a traffic advisory and distribute this to Talisay City to Sibonga town in the south and Mandaue City to Danao City in the north, informing motorists that a portion of the Cebu South Coastal Road will be closed to vehicular traffic that day.
However, the councilor said the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway will still be open to traffic and motorists can access Barangay Mambaling through F. Vestil Street and vice versa.
Zafra said that at least 20 contingents will participate in the grand parade with the majority coming from Cebu City and Cebu Province.
He said they will be joined by participants of the float and Higante categories on the 4.5-kilometer route.
He said the City Government will also implement a one-day liquor ban, which will only be lifted after the festivities.
Zafra admitted that they are facing difficulties because the venue is new and the area is hot due to the lack of trees, but they are looking for solutions, including installing public toilets along the parade route.
Things are expected to be back to normal for the Sinulog celebration in 2023 as activities such as the Walk with Mary, Walk with Jesus, Traslacion and the Solemn Procession will also be held after these were halted due to the pandemic. (PAC/PJB)
