Fluvial registration ends today

CEBU, Philippines - Ship owners and boat operators have until midnight today to register with the Philippine Coast Guard to be able to participate in the annual fluvial procession on Saturday.

Coast Guard Station Cebu acting commander Rodolfo Villajuan said that as of yesterday only 23 have registered.

"Thursday evening o kahit sa midnight kasi twenty-four-seven naman kami dito," Villajuan said.

He asked those who want to join the procession not to wait for the last minute before listing up to allow them more time to plan for the smooth flow of the parade.

Villajuan, however, admitted that they cannot prevent unregistered vessels from joining the procession.

"Dapat sana registered para maging maganda ang ating plano pero kung meron talaga (unregistered) hindi naman natin sila mapigilan. So, aayusin nalang natin 'yung formation doon," Villajuan added.

Unregistered vessels however will be positioned at the tail-end of the procession.

Villajuan said that those who want to register are required to submit a certificate of seaworthiness from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). Participants are prohibited from bringing along with them liquor, firecrackers, drugs, firearms and any kind of deadly weapon, and even balloons inflated with helium.

"Sa mga barangay officials, i-monitor nila ang mga taong nasasakupan nila, alam naman nila na kung magjo-join o hindi. So, tingnan nalang nila at i-monitor ang capacity ng mga bangka nila," Villajuan said.

Coast Guard conducted yesterday the table top exercise which involves the concerned agencies needed to secure and control the flow of the procession.

Among them are the AFP-Central Command, Navy, Red Cross, Bantay Dagat, 201st PCG and 202nd PCG units and volunteers from Coast Guard Auxiliary. About 100 sea marshals are to be deployed during the fluvial procession.

The fluvial procession will start at 6 a.m. but participating vessels are advised to be assembled not later than 5 a.m.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)- Mactan chief Oscar Tabada has advised the coast guard not to allow small boats in the procession.

Tabada said they are expecting the seawaters to be rough on Saturday because of the Low Pressure Area. He is however confident that the fluvial procession will proceed as planned.

"Ipadayon pero dunay limitation like ang mga gamay nga boats dili paapilon," he said.

Tabada said that the weather will be moderate today until Friday. The weather bureau is expecting moderate to heavy rains starting this evening with gusts of wind reaching 30-50 Kph.

"Kusog ang uwan and windy," Tabada said.

On Saturday, Tabada said Cebu will experience light to moderate rain but the wind speed will still be 30-50 Kph and is expected to create waves between 1.2 to 3 meters high. The public are advised to bring umbrellas and raincoats.

Tabada yesterday visited Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama at the City Hall and apprised the mayor of the weather condition until the Sinulog day.

Meanwhile, a much better weather condition greeted devotees of the Holy Child during yesterday's novena mass inside the Basilica Pilgrim Center.

As opposed to the previous days, the seventh day leading to the feast day of Sto. Niño de Cebu had a fine weather with the sun finally showing up except for the little drizzling in the late afternoon.

The 1 p.m. novena mass, celebrated by Our Lady of Guadalupe parish priest, Fr. Expedito Torrevillas, Jr., particularly was the sunniest of the 11 Eucharistic celebrations of the day.

In his homily, Fr. Torrevillas stressed that Cebuanos and the faithful in general should not be disheartened by the collapse of the belfry since this brings hope of rising again.

"People who believe in Sr. Sto. Niño, the devotees of Sr. Sto.Niño should be people of love. If indeed, we are, that is because we are people of faith. People of faith, of hope and love have no room for greed and selfishness," the mass celebrant addressed thousands of devotees who flocked the Basilica complex.

Those who could no longer be accommodated inside the Pilgrim center can still hear mass and get communion as large screen projecting the altar are positioned outside the basilica particularly at the Osmeña Boulevard entrance and near Magellan's Cross.

The Pilgrim Center has a maximum capacity of around 6,000. Devotees braved the sudden heat after days of downpour with umbrellas, which were also provided for by the Basilica. —/ (FREEMAN)