Sinulog body told to start preps back to old venue

CEBU CITY – Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia directed Sinulog organizers on Tuesday to start preparing for the annual festival in honor of the Sr. Sto. Niño, reverting to the usual venue at the Cebu City Sports Center.

“So, everything will now revolve around the plan that the venue will be at the Cebu City Sports Center,” Garcia told the media here.

He convinced the organizers not to wait for November to prepare, saying procuring resources for the yearly event takes time to process and to obtain approval.

Garcia’s decision to go back to the usual venue came after the holding of the Sinulog Festival at the South Road Properties for two consecutive years drew criticisms from participating local government units over concerns for safety and well-being of the performers.

Many Cebuanos said the transfer of the venue to SRP caused heavy traffic on the South National Highway.

Garcia, however, said suspended Mayor Michael Rama has the prerogative to opt to use the SRP once he resumes office as mayor after December this year.

“It is his prerogative. Hopefully he will see that he can do a lot of preparations at the CCSC, probably he would approve to just hold the Sinulog at CSCC,” Garcia said. (PNA)