IEC delegates to have local ‘foster parents’

CEBU, Philippines - When young people from around the world converge in Lapu-Lapu City on January 28 for the International Eucharistic Congress Youth Day, some locals will become their foster parents.

Andy Berame, deputy officer of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, told this to the media in a conference yesterday.

"Around 5,000 delegates will arrive in the city but we are yet to identify who will serve as their foster parents kay mag-meeting pa mi balik sa mga IEC organizers," he said.

The gathering, which is part of the 51st IEC which Cebu is hosting next month, will be held at the Hoopsdome in Barangay Gun-ob.

Lapu-Lapu City has six parishes, namely the Virgen Dela Regla in Barangay Poblacion, Sacred Heart Parish in Barangay Marigondon, Our Lady of Fatima in Barangay Pusok, the Mother of Perpetual Help in Barangay Babag, the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Barangay Pajac, and the Sto. Niño Parish in Barangay Mactan.

Berame said participants will be welcomed with a barrio fiesta-themed dinner on the night of January 27, something he said will be challenging since it will be held in the different parishes.

"It will be challenging but kada venue naa'y Incident Management Team ibutang (for security). Contingency plans are also made to avoid petty crimes or terrorism," he said.

Berame added that the delegates will then join a procession known as "Jericho Walk" in the afternoon of January 28, right after their morning activities at Hoopsdome.

The walk will start from Hoopsdome going to the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge heading to Mandani Bay in the North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City.

Berame said half of the lane on the bridge might be used during the walk. Road marshals and emergency medical teams from the Philippine Red Cross-Lapu-Lapu and Cordova chapters will be also deployed during the event.

 "Last  namong meeting didto sa Pavilion  with the youth committee, wala pa gyud mi maka-touch sa detalye kung unsaon nato paghimo sa walk ba kay mao man na'y crucial gud. Ang diha sa Hoopsdome, dalira i-manage. Ang walk, maka-cause unya ta og traffic sa public," Berame said.

Asked if the city will declare the IEC Youth Day as a local holiday, Berame said the Department of Education has already proposed such measure but the final decision, he said, will depend on Mayor Paz Radaza.

Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, acting director of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said they are on heightened alert this Christmas and New Year, as well as during the IEC and the May 2016 elections. (FREEMAN)