Security, cleanliness are top priorities

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) will install 26 additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in streets where revelers are expected to converge for the big events in the Sinulog.

City Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of CCDRRMC, said the cameras will be on top of the 30 existing surveillance cameras already in the city streets.

“In preparation for the upcoming festivities, we will install additional 26 CCTV cams specifically on those areas we identified as crowded areas, hotspots, entrance and exits within the city of Cebu,” he said.

Tumulak said the city government will not spend for the additional cameras because they will be lent by three private suppliers for the duration of the Sinulog.

“These suppliers, ato ning gi-check nga maayo kay if makita nato nga maayo ilang CCTV, that’s the time we will decide kinsa atong kuhaon,” he said.

The result of the surveillance during the Sinulog will help the city decide from which supplier it will purchase 50 additional CCTV cameras this year.

Starting today, the cameras will be installed along the route of the Grand Parade and other streets identified as risky and congested. Tumulak said 26 cameras will be fully operational come Thursday.

“Rest assured nga makita nato nga kinatibuk-ang Syudad, but it doesn’t mean nga mao ni’y makahatag og peace and order,” he said, emphasizing the need for the public to help the city government maintain peace and order during the festivities.

Meanwhile, Tumulak said private individuals will not be allowed to use drone cameras, especially along the Grand Parade route for sacurity reasons.

He said only media organizations that can secure a permit from CCDRMC are allowed to use the same, but only inside the Cebu City Sports Center. 

“Bawal ang palupad sa CCTV drone cameras kay naghatag mana og risk sa public. Wala ta kahibaw nga bomba na ang karga ana,” he said.

Children

Still on the aspect of security, Tumulak urged parents who plan to bring children to the streets during the Grand Parade to attach name tags or keep in a child’s clothing a piece of paper that contains the name of the child, parents, address and contact number. This is to ensure that the parents can be contacted in the event the child gets lost.

“Tanan mangawa na bata nya makit-an kay ato na dalhon sa police station. So dapat ila sad i-save ang ato emergency numbers nga ato gi-spread karon. Naa sa ato taurpulins sa ato mga dalan karon,” Tumulak said.

Barangay tanods, ambulances, and fire trucks will also be deployed along the route of the Grand Parade and the solemn procession.

Toilets

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Rama has sent letters to business establishments along the Grand Parade route appealing to let people, customer or not, to use their restrooms for free on the day of the big event.

Tumulak said the city made the appeal owing to reports that some establishments in the past have refused to allow the public to use their restrooms for free.

He reminded the establishments that refusing to accommodate the public will, in effect, violate the sanitary code since the law stipulates that restrooms of establishments are for public usage.

“Ato lang gilikayan na manimaho ato syudad. Ato lang sad gihangyo, as part sa corporate social responsibility sa mga establishments, nga ipagamit ang ila mga comfort rooms,” Tumulak said.

He said anyone who is not accommodated may report the incident to the city’s Command Control Center via call or text. (FREEMAN)