“Sinulog is for the devotees of Sr. Sto. Niño. Let’s give to them the true essence of Sinulog.”
These are the words of Gov. Gwen Garcia during a coordination meeting with stakeholders involved in the security and traffic management of the upcoming Sinulog sa Lalawigan on January 14, a Sunday.
“For the security personnel, we will be deploying 1,110 security personnel from PNP, AFP, Coastguard and force multipliers along the 1.85-kilometer street dancing route, including the deployment of security units inside the [Cebu City] Sports Center,” said Cebu Provincial Police Office Director PCOL Percival Zorilla.
Also present during the meeting were PNP officials of the region and Cebu City; as well as the Coast Guard, Navy, AFP, and Cebu City Transportation Office.
According to Zorilla, CPPO will also be deploying Sugbo Cops and motor vehicles with radio communication devices that were given as reward by the Capitol to winning police stations of the Sugbusog sa Estasyonan contest.
A command center will also be put up to monitor the security of the entire activities of Sinulog sa Lalawigan. The PNP will also deploy 18 K-9 dogs along the street dancing route, which begins in front of the Capitol Building; as well as the inside the CCSC.
At least 18 contingents from Cebu Province, including the tri-cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, shall grace the street dancing competition and the grand showdown.
While the police and the military have committed to securing the parade route as well as the CCSC, the CCTO shall be implementing alternative routes in order to least inconvenience motorists during the street dancing.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard and the Navy shall help transport the contingents from Madridejos in Bantayan; and Poro and Tudela in Camotes Islands.
Governor Garcia is also set to do a walkthrough at the CCSC and the street dancing route in the coming days to personally assess the situation on the ground. | Jude Torres