City rolls out free rides, shelter for devotees

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government is providing devotees—especially the less fortunate—with free transportation and temporary shelter during the Fiesta Señor celebration.

As thousands flock to the city for the annual festivities, officials rolled out electric buses to ferry devotees along major routes and reopened the Devotee City to accommodate pilgrims arriving from neighboring islands.

Mayor Nestor Archival on Wednesday led the ceremonial e-bus ride and formally opened the Devotee City near Fort San Pedro at Plaza Independencia.

The twin initiatives reflect the city’s dual priorities of compassion and mobility—ensuring devotees are well cared for while advancing greener transport solutions.

For Sinulog, the free e-bus rides will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on a looping route covering SM City Cebu, Gaisano Mall, Plaza Independencia, and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.

Archival said the charging and maintenance of the e-buses, supplied by GET Philippines (Global Electric Transport), will be handled by the Department of General Services. After Sinulog, the buses will be fully utilized to support expanded city operations.

City Councilor Joel Garganera, who has long advocated the use of e-buses alongside the mayor, said coordination with the city’s Cultural and Historical Affairs Office is underway to expand their use for heritage tours.

Councilor Winston Pepito, chair of the City Council’s transportation committee, also expressed support for operating the e-buses beyond Sinulog, particularly for tourism and cultural promotion.

Meanwhile, about a thousand devotees from outside Cebu have so far availed themselves of the free temporary shelter at the Devotee City. The facility offers sanitation services and communal kitchens for pilgrims.

The Devotee City, spearheaded by Councilor Francis Esparis, embodies Cebu’s spirit of hospitality and solidarity. Its reopening this year, alongside the e-bus launch, underscores the city’s commitment to both tradition and innovation—welcoming pilgrims with dignity while modernizing transport for the festival’s massive crowds. — (FREEMAN)