Our Lady of Guadalupe feast: Motorists warned vs traffic

CEBU, Philippines -  Days leading to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe this Saturday, the Cebu City Transportation Office is anticipating busy roads within Barangay Guadalupe as it celebrates its annual Banauan Festival.

Public utility vehicles are advised to follow the traffic rerouting scheme while private motorists are asked to avoid the affected routes with the activities lined up for the festivity.

“Expect heavy traffic (this week) in the vicinity of Barangay Guadalupe. Routes are mapped-out to ensure that vehicular traffic will be moving in these areas as thousands of people are expected to gather, attend and join the festivities owing to the barangay’s dense population,” said lawyer Rey Gealon, the acting executive director of CCTO.

At least 15 traffic enforcers will be deployed along the affected roads to assist motorists with security support from the Traffic Patrol Group of the Cebu City Police Office.

CCTO operations division head Jonathan Tumulak said it would be a busy day for CCTO starting today until the weekend with the scheduled street activities.

Today, a street dancing will be held in the afternoon and a ritual showdown at night.

Tumulak said the street dancing may cause traffic disruption starting at 12 p.m. when participating groups assemble at the Happy Valley Subdivision. The street dance parade will take the north-bound lane, which will be temporarily closed until the activity ends.

The next day, parishioners will gather for the foot procession that will commence at 3 p.m. at the Guadalupe Church, take the V. Rama Avenue; left turn to the barangay road; right turn to Andres Abellana Street; right turn to M. Velez Street; left turn to V. Rama Avenue; to Happy Valley Subdivision; return to V. Rama Avenue; and back to Guadalupe Church.

Tumulak urged motorists to avoid these roads, which will be possibly reopened between 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

On a related occasion, a separate procession will be done by parishioners of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral starting at 4:30 p.m. It will take P. Burgos Street; right turn to Osmeña Boulevard; right turn to D. Jakosalem Street; right turn to Colon Street; right turn to Mabini Street; then back to the church.

On the actual day of the festivity on Saturday, some roads will also be possibly closed, depending on the volume of people and vehicles during the day, said Tumulak. —(FREEMAN)