All set for today's Grand Parade

CEBU, Philippines - As thousands of spectators flock the streets for the Sinulog Grand Parade today, Sinulog Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros made a last minute appeal to the public – refrain from shoving and pushing especially when in crowds to avoid a possible stampede.

Ballesteros also assured the public that everything is in place for today’s activities, especially the security measures at major parade chokepoints including the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, General Maxilom Avenue and the Cebu City Sports Center. These areas are where most of the judges will be positioned thus contingents are expected to stop and perform.

The final performances of the participating contingents will also happen at the sports center where the grand Sinulog stage is situated.

For the benefit of the public, Ballesteros said that the Cebu City Police Office has put up tarpaulins along the Grand Parade route that contain a list of police hotlines and emergency numbers that the public can call in cases of emergency and/or unfavorable incidents.

CCPO Director S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said policemen will be positioned in critical areas or those where crowds are expected to gather, among which is the grand stand at the sports center.

“We have already asked assistance from universities and colleges to help the AFP-Central Command in crowd control by sending students and trainees, as well as help regulate revelers in critical areas where people are tightly gathered,” Buenafe said.

“I am also giving instructions to personnel assigned there to allow no one to stay in the front railings, including the passage way to the top bleachers,” he added.

To ensure a smooth operation today, Buenafe said the dry run has been conducted at various sections along the carousel route. (FREEMAN)