CCTO advisory: ‘Brace for heavy traffic today until Wednesday’

CEBU, Philippines – Commuters and motorists should expect heavy traffic starting today until September 23, advised the Cebu City Transportation Office yesterday.

CCTO Operations Chief Jonathan Tumulak said there are 14 different road events in the city from now until Wednesday next week and he asked the public to cooperate.

“Naa ‘tay mga dagkong events maong hangyo lang ta sa publiko nga mo-cooperate lang and brace ta sa heavy traffic. Awhag nato nga planohan ang lakaw, kon dili importante ayaw nalang gyod og lakaw,” he said.

For today, heavy traffic will be felt along Pope John Paul II Avenue, as the San Carlos Seminary College will have a procession at 5:30 p.m. from its premises to the Carmelite Monastery a few blocks away.

He said heavy traffic will also be experienced tomorrow in Tisa, as the barangay will hold the opening salvo of the Siomai sa Tisa Festival. On this day, the city will close the roads from Tomlyn’s Compound, Katipunan Street up to Petron Gasoline Station along F. Llamas Street, from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The same roads will be closed starting 9 p.m., to 2 a.m. on the same day for a street party.

Still part of the celebration, there will be a 6 a.m. Barangay Tisa Fun Run this Saturday, followed by a parade for the 60th Church Anniversary of Cebu Bethel Temple Inc. at 7 a.m., and street dancing for the Poblacion Pardo fiesta at 1 p.m.

The city will likewise close roads from Katipunan corner F. Llamas Streets to corner Cabarrubias Street from 7 p.m., to 1 a.m., also on the same day,

Tumulak said that there will be three events on Sunday: the Spirit of Wipro Run at 4 a.m., 21st Cebu Press Freedom Week parade at 7 a.m., and Colon Night Market at 6:30 p.m. For the night market, the city will close Colon Street from the Osmeña Boulevard corner to the Junquera Street junction until October 20.

On September 21, there would be the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church fiesta procession at 5 p.m., and another procession on September 22 for the Saint Pio Contemplative Community of Cebu at 4 p.m.

On September 23, there will be a “Padyak Tungo sa Liwanag Worldfest,” which will be attended by persons with disabilities, who will walk or bike from Plaza Independencia at the pier area to the Capitol starting 3 p.m.

Tumulak said these activities will greatly affect normal traffic flow in the city’s streets.

To help mitigate the ill effects of the activities to the traffic situation in the city, CCTO would deploy 25 motorized enforcers during each activity to assist motorists and commuters. —/RHM (FREEMAN)