CH ready to assist summit delegates watching Sinulog

The city government is ready to accommodate the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit delegates who would want to witness the annual Sinulog festivities.

City Public Information Officer Nagiel Bañacia, the city's representative to the Cebu Organizing Committee of the ASEAN Summit, told The Freeman that the city is now preparing for possible assistance to delegates who would choose to stay behind after the summit to witness the Sinulog.

Bañacia said they are already anticipating that some delegates would stay especially the international media considering that they would be made to witness the opening of the Sinulog on the afternoon of January 12.

"We will try our best to accommodate, it is our pleasure to accommodate," Bañacia said.

Accommodation would include VIP seats at the grand stand of the Cebu City Sports Center where the final performances of the participating Sinulog Mardi Gras contingents would happen on January 21.

Aside from this, Bañacia said the city would give the guests transportation from their hotels to the Sinulog venues, and personnel to assist them.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said yesterday that the city is placing itself in a "very flexible position" should the delegates would want to stay to witness the Sinulog.

At least 43 contingents participated in the Sinulog Mardi Gras last year with the participation of four new contingents from Passi City in Iloilo, Masbate City, Eastern Samar and the "Bag-ong Ozamiznon" from Ozamiz City. It was, however, a little short of the other year's 48 contingents.

The Sinulog Mardi Gras kicked off at around 9:00 a.m. and contingents said to have traveled the parade route relatively slow and several onlookers observed that there were wide gaps between contingents on the road.

So far, the out-of-town contingents that have already registered to join the Sinulog include the Tawo-Tawo Festival contingent from Bayawan City and the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City.

The augmentation force of 1,420 military and police personnel from all over the country has already returned to the city to act as guards to streets and key areas where summit activities will be held.

There are no significant changes from the original security plans and the dry run on the ceremonial routes would start tonight.

Senior officials of the participating countries would start arriving on January 9, although the police anticipate that some would already arrive as early as January 8.

The heads of state, meanwhile, are expected to arrive on January 12, as their meetings would start on January 13. The other meetings with the dialogue partners would commence on January 14.

The summit was called off last month just two days before it was supposed to officially start on December 10. The NOC stood firm that it was Typhoon Seniang that caused the postponement but some suspected it was triggered by terrorism threats and the political storm brewing in Manila. - Joeberth M. Ocao/LPM