CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Lead security agencies in Cebu are gearing up for the 460th Fiesta Señor Celebration and Sinulog Festival 2025.
Police Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, spokesperson for Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 regional director Police Brig. Gen. Roy Parena, disclosed during the Kapihan sa PIA on Jan. 8 that the PRO-7 is on full alert for the Sinulog festivities.
“Ang pinakadako nga activity for the cultural is the grand parade. We are going to deploy a total of 2,976 PNP personnel. Then sa atong religious sector, also ang pinaka finale sa atong religious sector which is the solemn foot procession, we will also be deploying a total of 1,870. We really assure nga we are really trying our best with all the partner agencies to ensure the safety and the security of all those who will join the celebration and who will show their devotion,” said Rafter.
(The biggest activity for the cultural aspect is the grand parade. We are going to deploy a total of 2,976 PNP personnel. Then, for the religious sector, the grand finale of the religious activities, which is the solemn foot procession, we will also deploy a total of 1,870 personnel. We assure everyone that we are doing our best, along with all partner agencies, to ensure the safety and security of all who will participate in the celebration and express their devotion.)
On Jan. 8, the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted a send-off activity at the Cebu City Sports Center in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Health (DOH), Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) team, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), and Barangay Public Safety Officers (BPSO) to ensure readiness for the much-anticipated festivities.
More than 3,000 uniformed personnel were deployed to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and other crowded areas.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Central Cebu Commander Capt. Jerome Lozada also highlighted Oplan Ligtas Biyahe, which was activated to ensure safe travel for passengers.
“Ang PCG naa sad sa heightened alert. We are also part of Oplan Ligtas Biyahe. We will be establishing passenger assistance desks to assist our travelers via sea sa mga ports within Cebu province,” said Lozada.
(The PCG is also on heightened alert. We are part of Oplan Ligtas Biyahe and we will be establishing passenger assistance desks to assist our travelers by sea at the ports within Cebu province.)
He also emphasized the crucial role of the PCG in the Annual Sinulog Fluvial Procession, which includes registering sea vessels such as motor bancas and other maritime crafts.
The registration began on Dec. 2, 2024, with a deadline initially set for Jan. 6 but later extended to Jan. 10, 2025.
As of Jan. 8, Lozada said 121 vessels have signed up for registration.
Last year, more than 200 vessels joined the fluvial procession.
He added that the PCG would deploy floating assets, including three large ships in Central Visayas and all operational boats in Cebu and Bohol, to assist in the fluvial event.
Lozada noted that the PNP Maritime Group and the Philippine Navy would also lend their vessels to the PCG.
Meanwhile, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu Media Liaison Rev. Fr. Jules Van Almerez, OSA, said the maximum capacity of the Pilgrim Center is 5,000 persons.
“We have already instructed our security personnel. Naa naman nakaposition ana sulod sa Basilica. We have already instructed them as we did in previous years nga if ma-meet na ang max sa atong crowd, then we would stop ang didto sa Magellan’s entrance,” said Almerez.
(We have already instructed our security personnel. They are already positioned inside the Basilica. As we did in previous years, we have instructed them that if the maximum capacity of the crowd is reached, we will stop entry at Magellan’s entrance.)
He explained that LED walls were placed in designated areas near the church to avoid overcrowding, with communion stations also set up near the LED walls.
Churchgoers wearing improper clothing, carrying large bags or camping chairs, or wearing face paint will not be allowed to enter the Basilica.
The public is encouraged to check the social media pages of PCG 7, PRO 7, and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu for public advisories and safety guidelines. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
