Use extended ‘til the 31st IEC participants can stay at Devotee City

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will extend the use of the Devotee City until January 31 to accommodate those who want to attend the events of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in the city.

Those who came to Cebu to join the Sinulog 2016 activities and stayed at the Devotee City already left last Monday.

But acting mayor Edgardo Labella asked sponsors to extend their assistance for two more weeks for the IEC, as he was certain many people from other provinces would want to attend the religious activity.

“Our request was given due course by the 2GO company (which owns the container vans) to extend the Devotee City until the 31st of January to accommodate devotees who cannot afford to check in hotels and pension houses,” he told reporters yesterday.

2GO Travel Company lent City Hall 120 container vans that the city used as temporary shelters for the Devotee City to accommodate at least 3,000 people.

Like those occupied the Devotee City for the Sinulog, anyone who wants to avail of the free temporary shelter should present bus or boat tickets to the ones at the registration area.

Labella reminded that the city government will only accept those living beyond Danao City in the north of Cebu and beyond Carcar City in the south.

“Naa gihapon ang atong sponsors every now and then… sa mga pagkaon.  Not just companies who are doing outreach (activities) but individuals, well-meaning individuals nga mohatag og share sa ilang blessings sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga ingon ta less-privileged members of the society,” he said.

The acting mayor said that just like the Sinulog, the city government will provide all the utilities and other needs, particularly water supply, electricity, comfort rooms, medical stations, and security personnel.

He said there are IEC activities that are open to the public and not only to the delegates, which is why the city has anticipated the influx of people and has prepared for them in terms of security and traffic concerns.

The IEC will kick off with a 4 p.m. opening Mass at the Plaza Independencia this Sunday. –(FREEMAN)