In the Sinulog’s four-decade history, it is the first time the grand parade and ritual showdown featuring performances from local and out-of-town contingents will be held at the SRP, the Cebu City Government-owned reclamation area that is not currently served by regular public transportation such as jeepneys.
Four days before the festival, Cebu City also gave an update on Sunday’s participating contingents, parade route, and road closures.
In a press conference Wednesday, Jan. 11, lawyer Collin Rosell, secretary of Mayor Michael Rama, said 21 City Hall-owned buses will also be deployed on Jan. 15, to provide free transportation to individuals going to the venue.
The CCTO has received the assurance of eight transport cooperatives that will extend their routes to the SRP, but rides on these vehicles will not be free since the minimum fare will still apply.
The cooperatives will have a 100 percent deployment of their modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) in five routes starting 6 a.m. until all activities at the SRP end.
These are the special routes for the Sinulog grand parade: Anjo World Theme Park in Minglanilla going to SRP near Talisay City Fish Port; Talamban area to SRP; Parkmall to SRP; Tabunok, Talisay to Mambaling; and Marigondon-Cordova to SRP.
At the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Central Visayas (LTFRB 7), Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. said they will use the final rerouting plan of the Cebu City Government as basis for the issuance of special permits for the Sinulog Festival 2023.
However, Montealto said that as of Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 11, the agency had not issued special permits for PUVs that can transport passengers to the SRP, as it had not received any applications for special permits from transport operators.
Councilor Joel Garganera announced that 10 electric vehicles operated by Global Electric Transport will also be deployed during the grand parade to provide free transportation to the SRP.