Brace for heavy traffic: 300T expected at IEC opening

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archdiocese spokesman Monsignor Joseph Tan said they expect around 300,000 people to hear the opening Mass of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress to be celebra-ted at the Plaza Independencia this afternoon.

The faithful are likely to spill out of Plaza Independencia and occupy the roads around it.

The Mass, to be held at 4 p.m., will be celebrated by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., from the Archdiocese of Yangon, Myanmar.

Bo was appointed by Pope Francis as the Papal Legate to the 51st IEC.

Tan joked that he expects a lot of people because he believes IEC is to the old people what World Youth Day is to the younger ones.

“Atoa lang, partly I say this nga comedy, kaning IEC World Youth Day sa mga tiguwang,” he said.

He added that this year the organizers are “lucky” to have a pool of speakers, including the newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles Robert Baron, who is famous for his online ministry the “Word on Fire.”

Baron will also speak before the youth on Thursday at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City for the IEC Youth Day that already has close to 4,000 registered delegates.

“I like it nga daghang batan-on ani, we would like to manifest nga posible nga batan-on matuohon,” he said.

Tan said that although online registration has been closed, the organizing committee is still giving a chance for others to take part in the event by accepting walk-in delegates at the IEC Pavilion.

Cops ready

Meanwhile, close to 1,000 policemen will be deployed today in the streets, hotels and in the IEC Pavilion on top of the police force of the Cebu City Police Office.

Chief Inspector David Señor, CCPO Police Community Relations Branch chief, said the augmentation from Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor Provincial Police Offices arrived earlier yesterday.

He said that those who will not be assigned to guard hotels will be deployed in Plaza Independencia for the opening Mass.

On top of that, at least three platoons from the Regional Public Safety Battalion will be deployed today as an addition to the security forces.

Señor said that the police officers will render 12-hour service starting tomorrow until the end of the IEC.

He urged those who want to hear the opening Mass not to bring their vehicles because there will be road closures. He added that all roads leading to Plaza Independencia will be closed to traffic.

He also discouraged people from bringing umbrellas and big bags for security reasons, saying that policemen will check the contents of bags and this will cause delay and inconvenience.

Brace for traffic

The Cebu City Transportation Office anticipates heavy traffic this afternoon particularly along the routes near Plaza Independencia.

“Motorists will experience slow-moving traffic if they insist in passing through the affected areas and arterial roads… Most of the people (who will be attending the Mass) will be walking on the open roads which are closed to vehicular traffic,” said CCTO acting executive director Rey Gealon.

Private and public vehicles will be restricted from entering the roads surrounding the plaza such as M.J. Cuenco Avenue and Legaspi Extension as well as the portion of the nearby roads connected to it such as Osmeña Boulevard; M.C. Briones Street; and Serging Osmeña Boulevard.

Gealon likened the event to a “Santo Niño fiesta-like gathering.”

“I am seeing a festive mood tomorrow in anticipation of the Eucharistic celebration to be attended by thousands of people from the religious sector and laity, amongst hundreds of nuns, priests, bishops and cardinals from all over the world,” he said in an interview yesterday.

He also sought the cooperation from all road users to take heed of the traffic advisories especially on the road closures and rerouting plans to prevent traffic havoc.

Expectations exceeded, but…

Meanwhile, the “Piso Para sa Misa ng buong Mundo” project for the IEC generated around P30 million, way bigger than the targeted amount, the project’s coordinator Fr. Charles Jayme reported.

Jayme said they only expected the fund-raising project to reach P20 million but it exceeded their expectations.

The total amount covered the period from July 2014 until January 20, 2016 and 60 percent of the donations were collected in Cebu City.

However, even if they received a bigger amount, Jayme said the summed donation still cannot cover the total cost for the entire religious event.

He added that they will continue to accept donations until today. — /BRP Bryner L. Diaz, May B. Miasco, Rowena D. Capistrano (FREEMAN)