Rama confident Binay will come for Sinulog

CEBU, Philippines - Of the five national figures invited for the Sinulog grand parade on January 19, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is confident that Vice President Jejomar Binay will attend.

Rama said he already talked with Binay over the phone yesterday about the event on Sunday. However, the Office of the Vice President has yet to set Binay’s itinerary.

“Wala pa po palang itinerary for the Cebu Sinulog trip. Baka po bukas or Saturday pa ma-confirm kung tuloy si VP or not,” the Office of the Vice president in a text message.

Rama also invited President Benigno Aquino III to the event. Rama himself earlier called Aquino’s Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

Former senator Richard “Dick” Gordon and senators Pia Cayetano and Allan Cayetano were also invited to the event. The Cayetanos are credited with helping in the funding of the construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center and extending aid to Cebuanos who were affected by the earthquake last October 15 and super typhoon Yolanda.

Rama added that his office will follow-up with their invitations.

Aquino last attended the Sinulog in 2010 when Rama and his predecessor Tomas Osmeña were still political allies.

Last year, politicians who attended the said event included Binay, Senator Cynthia Villar, former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Gordon, and former Bayan Muna Partylist congressman Teddy Casiño.

The Cebu City government has prepared nine emergency units and 14 ambulances to respond to possible emergencies during the event. The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, the Basak Pardo Emergency Response, the Red Cross, the Pit-os Emergency Rescue Team, the Ang Labangon Emergency Rescue Team, the Inayawan Rescue Unit and the All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization will also be on standby.

Councilor Dave Tumulak said the Cebu City Command Control, which is located in Barangay Mambaling, will manage everything.

“Naa ang mga CCTV, PNP, atong mga CITOM, tanan naa didto,” he said.

There will also be fire trucks assigned in various areas of Cebu City.

“For example naa’y sunog diri sa south ang fire truck sa north dili na makatabok kay tungod sa traffic.  So ang mutabang puro south, kun grabe na gyud kaayo that’s the time nga mo-dispatch ta,” Tumulak said.

Fluvial procession

For the fluvial procession, there will be three divisions of Bantay Dagat personnel who will screen for the sea vessels that will join the parade.

“Mao nay among trabaho kanang mga pump boat nga wala marehistro di na kalusot, og ma-late dili pakuanon kay masamok ang rota, kinahanglan ang limitation ra ang mo sakay,” said Bantay Dagat Commission project director Ranulfo Sebusa.

He added that from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m. no boat can pass the fluvial procession route.

Mayor Rama reminded spectators not to park in the sidewalks and told the sidewalk vendors to be in their proper places to prevent constriction. Balloons are also prohibited.

“They will have to reach the gutter. They should be using plastic stools, rather than getting to be occupying the road,” Rama said. –with Mechelle P. Florita/BRP (FREEMAN)