AROUND 50 vessels will be joining the seaborne procession of the 453rd Fiesta Señor tomorrow.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu Station said majority of the 50 vessels registered at the last minute of the deadline of registration last Wednesday.
Commander Jerome Cayabyab, PCG Cebu Station head, said they had briefed the participants during a meeting yesterday.
Cayabyab said marshals from PCG and the Philippine Navy will ensure that the participants during the seaborne procession will be safeguarded.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Government has allocated around half a million pesos as assistance to the Cebu City Government in managing the Devotee City near the Compania Maritima.
Lawyer Mark Tolentino, Provincial administrator, told reporters yesterday that they’ve allocated P500,000 to help pay the rent for the container vans that will serve as temporary shelters for devotees who plan to stay in Cebu to attend the religious activities during the Fiesta Señor.
Tolentino said they also sent personnel from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to help assist devotees on what they need.
The Cebu City Government opened the Devotee City to help accommodate at least 3,000 transients from different parts of Cebu who will be attending the fiesta activities.
Security
Tighter security will be implemented in Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) tomorrow, during the seaborne procession of the image of Sto. Niño.
Ensign Amanda Zamuco, public information officer of Navforcen, said the activity is open to public, but those without passes will not be allowed to board their vessels.
“We will not allow them to board if they don’t have passes. Of course, we also have to observe protocol, considering that our place is a military base and this is also for the security or everyone,” she told reporters yesterday.
The public, however, can enter their base to witness the seaborne procession only up to the Captain Veloso Pier of the Naval Base Rafael Ramos of Navforcen.
Zamuco said they advised them not to bring bags, but if needed, they should use those transparent ones.
“Walk-ins and well-wishers are advised not to bring bags upon entry at the gates. Should there be instances where they need to bring some food and water, they are highly encouraged to use transparent bags for inspection by our personnel on duty stationed at the gates,” read the advisory.
Although the seaborne procession will start at 6 a.m., Zamuco said they will open their gates starting 2 a.m.
For the first time this year, the Philippine Navy through Navforcen will take the lead in the seaborne procession.
The Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas AGTA (LC 290) will be the official vessel that will carry the image of Sto. Niño during the seaborne procession. (JKV, RVC)