PCG keeps watch on Sinulog fluvial parade

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is deploying four ships and five rubber boats to secure the 65 vessels and 60 marshal seacraft taking part in today’s Sinulog fluvial parade in Cebu.

Capt. Roland Lizor Punzalan, PCG Cebu District commander, said they will also deploy 10 divers while other agencies such as the Navy will field 20 other divers in case any participant falls into the water.

The organizers are making sure that all the vessels joining the fluvial procession, which starts at 6 a.m. today, are counted and identified.

As of yesterday, Punzalan said 65 vessels had registered for the parade. There will also be 60 “regulator seacraft” that will serve as marshals to ensure that no vessel will attempt to “overtake” another during the event.

He admitted that there are also instances that some ship owners who failed to register would insist on joining the procession. “The regulators will be there to keep things in order,” he said.

He said the vessels should keep a “safe distance” of about 10 meters from each other to avoid any collision.

Meanwhile, thousands of Marian devotees joined the penitential walk with Mary in Cebu City yesterday.

The devotees assembled at the Guadalupe Shrine at 3 a.m. yesterday and proceeded to the Fuente Osmeña Circle and then to the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

The carroza bearing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe took more than an hour to traverse the one-kilometer distance between the church and Fuente Osmeña.

The procession was followed by the ninth day novena Mass presided over by Msgr. Jose Montecillo.

In his homily, Montecillo talked about the gospel about a paralytic man who was forgiven and healed by Jesus. He also reminded the devotees to live their lives with love, hope, and faith. – With Julit Jainar/Freeman