1,600 deployed to secure Fiesta Señor

CEBU, Philippines — At least 1,600 security personnel were formally sent off on Monday, January 12, for deployment during the 461st Fiesta Señor and the Sinulog Festival 2026, as authorities assured the public that all security preparations are in place for the weeklong celebrations.

The send-off ceremony marked the mobilization of personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM), force multipliers, Barangay Public Safety Officers (BPSOs), and interns from the University of Cebu–Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM).

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, who attended the ceremony, said the city is fully prepared to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of the Fiesta Señor and Sinulog activities.

“All systems go na g’yud. Gi-andaman g’yud ni og maayo ang deployment sa 1,600 personnel para sa pagdawat nato ni Señor Santo Niño ug sa sunod nga mga kalihokan,” Ouano said.

He added that while there are no security threats monitored so far, the city opted for a larger deployment due to the expected influx of devotees and added side events.

Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) director Police Colonel Cirilo Acosta Jr. said the number of deployed personnel this year is more than double compared to last year’s 800-plus deployment.

Acosta attributed the increase to directives from the Police Regional Office-7 and the first-ever overnight stay of the image of the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City.

“Last year, the activities were only until evening. This year, the image will stay overnight and there will be a series of activities such as Masses and pahalok, which we expect will draw larger crowds,” Acosta said.

He said personnel will be deployed as early as 4 A.M. on January 15, ahead of the expected 6 A.M. arrival of the Señor Santo Niño from the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño for the Traslacion.

Authorities will also secure the welcome of the holy image in Barangay Subangdaku, depending on the conclusion of the Mass at the basilica in Cebu City.

Acosta said security coverage will be intensified in areas expected to draw large crowds, particularly during the veneration of the sacred image.

Additionally, security will also be stationed along coastal barangays such as Looc, Subangdaku, and Paknaan, where devotees are expected to gather to watch the fluvial procession near Mandani Bay on Saturday, January 17.

“There are no threats monitored so far as evaluated by our intelligence units, but we will not let our guard down. Our personnel will be on full alert to ensure the celebration remains peaceful, meaningful, and religious in nature,” Acosta said.

He clarified that the deployment is over and above the police’s regular beat patrols, fixed visibility points, and elevated outposts, noting that at least 100 MCPO personnel were also sent to augment the Cebu City Police Office for Sinulog-related activities.

Of the total deployment, 614 personnel are from the PNP, 100 from the AFP, 63 from the BFP, 10 from the PCG, 105 from the CDRRMO, 200 from TEAM, 92 force multipliers, 150 BPSOs, and 267 interns.

Ouano appealed to Mandauehanons to cooperate with authorities during the festivities.

“Ako lang hangyo sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga maminaw lang ta sa atong mga personnel para sa atong kaugalingong kaluwasan ug aron mahapusay ang pag-agad ni Señor Sto. Niño nga walay untoward incident,” he said.

Fluvial procession preparations

With only a few days left, preparations are now being polished to ensure a smooth flow and successful culmination of this year’s fluvial procession on Saturday.

“We are almost on the last part of our preparations. We have already finalized tung mga floating assets natin na idi-deploy natin for the upcoming fluvial procession,” said Captain Jerome Lozada, station commander of Coast Guard District Central Visayas (CGDCV).

Yesterday, Lozada led the third inter-agency meeting and table-top exercise for the fluvial parade 2026, which was attended by representatives from the PCG, PNP, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Cebu Port Authority, CCDRRMO, and Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.

Also present was Cesar Licudine, officer-in-charge administrator of the Lite Shipping Corp., which owns the MV Lite Ferry Ten, the official galleon that will carry the images of the Sagrada Familia --Señor Santo Niño, Birhen sa Guadalupe, and St. Joseph-- from Lapu-Lapu City to Cebu City.

Lozada said around 250 vessels were already registered as of January 11. He hopes more will join so the number can reach or exceed the 350 participants recorded last year. Devotees can register through online or walk-in applications at the nearest PCG stations or substations.

Once registered, the final participants will be invited for a briefing session on January 14 and 15 to be informed of the guidelines and the dos and don’ts during the said event.

Lozada asserted that all participating vessels, particularly jetskis, are required to follow a speed limit of five knots or about nine kilometers per hour so no vessel will overtake the official galleon.

In terms of the security preparations, he also said a total of 500 to 600 personnel will be detailed, including some officials from the CPA to sustain the orderly situation in the viewing decks at Piers 1 to 5.

After learning some points of improvements from last year’s fluvial procession, Lozada shared that small motorbancas are restricted from joining.

On the other hand, big boats that can carry about 30 persons are permitted. However, Lozada said that they will be placed behind, citing overtaking incidents committed by the small ones in the previous year.

“They (big boats) will be placed at the back kay we have observed last year, when we allowed kaning mga gagmay nga mga bangka dali ra man sila mo singit-singit. Since layo sila sa galleon, mo-overtake g’yud sila, mo-adto sa atubangan,” he said.

For those vessels that will go against the policies intended for the fluvial procession, Lozada said sea marshals will initially warn them but issue violations if warnings are ignored.

Regarding possible adverse weather during the day of the fluvial parade, Lozada said the event will be cancelled.

“If ever mag-hoist og storm signal number ang PAGASA, definitely we cannot be able to continue the activity… Absolute ang policy nato diha na ‘No Sail’ g’yud,” he said.

He assured that authorities will observe a localized forecast of possible storm signals, noting that most monitoring is done on the national scope. — (FREEMAN)