Lapu-Lapu to close roads to vehicles

CEBU, Philippines – Lapu-Lapu City will close some roads to pave way for its hosting of a youth gathering on January 27 and 28 as part of the activities of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.

City Traffic Management Systems chief Frank Brazil said roads leading to the Sto. Niño de Cebu Parish in Barangay Mactan will be closed as early as 3 p.m. of January 26.

He said this will allow concerned barangay and parish officials to prepare for the welcome dinner for the delegates, as well as to put up booths where they could display local products.

Sto. Niño Parish is one of the five local parishes in Lapu-Lapu to throw a welcome dinner on January 27 for more than 3,200 delegates of the IEC Youth Day on January 28.

Brazil said the four other parishes – Virgen Dela Regla in Barangay Poblacion, Sacred Heart in Barangay Marigondon, Mother of Perpetual Help in Barangay Babag, and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Barangay Pajac - were able to secure their own space for the welcome dinner so there was no need for road closures in these areas.

For motorists who will be affected by the road closures in Barangay Mactan, Brazil suggested that they take the road along Mactan Shrine going to the new access road in Sitio Angasil.

Motorists coming from Barangays Marigondon and Maribago and Cordova town going to Mactan Economic Zone 1 in Barangay Ibo may also take the same access road in Angasil.

Brazil said closed roads in Mactan will be reopened only after the welcome dinner and program at the parish on January 27.

On January 28, Maximo V. Patalinghug Street will be closed to vehicular traffic at 3 p.m. as delegates join the three-hour Jericho Walk that will start from the Hoopsdome in Barangay Gun-ob.

Delegates will use the left lane of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge going to Mandani Bay in North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City.

Motorists from Cordova town and Barangay Babag are advised to pass by S. Osmeña Street in Tamiya in Barangay Basak and use the other lane of Patalinghug Street going to their desired destinations and vice versa.

Motorists also have the option to use Marcelo Fernan Bridge while the Jericho Walk is ongoing at the old bridge, said Brazil.

Traffic officials expect to reopen shut down routes as soon as the pilgrims' walk is completed by 5 to 6 p.m.

No classes in Mandaue

Meanwhile, classes in Mandaue City will be suspended on January 25-29 to allow students and pupils to participate in IEC activities.

"Pursuant to unnumbered Regional Memorandum dated January 5, 2016, we are going to suspend classes for 5 days in the Division of Mandaue City during the 51st (IEC) on January 25 to 29 to allow (them)…to take part of this memorable event and to decongest traffic," read the January 18 order of Mandaue City Schools Division Superintendent Arden Monisit.

Monisit, however, clarified that there will be make-up sessions on February 13, 20 and 27 and March 5 and 12 to compensate for the days when classes were suspended.

Monisit's order came after DepEd acting regional director Juliet Jeruta issued a separate memorandum ordering the city divisions of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu to suspend their classes between January 24 to 31 or whenever there are IEC-related events being held in their areas.

Jeruta's order was dated January 5.  Liv G. Campo (FREEMAN)