Palma mulls holidays for IEC

CEBU, Philippines - The Archdiocese of Cebu is looking at the possibility of asking President Benigno Aquino III to declare next year’s International Eucharistic Congress special holidays because of the expected traffic problem.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said that the IEC organizers and the other church officials in coordination with the local officials are still doing assessment on whether or not to request for holidays from Malacañang and how many days would it be.

“Hunahunaon nato kon kinahanglanon ba ang pagpangayo niining privilege kay kon tan-awon, kini dili man lang gyud strictly speaking on religious (aspect) daghang mga effects sa matod pa sa atong culture. Tan-awon on what will be the condition and make wishes na ma-declare unta nga walay klase like what happened sa APEC (in Manila),” said Palma during the meeting with the IEC organizers and Mayor Michael Rama.

Rama said he will support whatever would be the decision of the Archdiocese officials.

“I don’t want to be getting [involved] but I will not stop also the Church if that is what they wish because I don’t want to say that it is not necessary… Tan-awon usa ang plano. Let the Church bring the concern to them,” Rama said.

Rama said the city government and the church should think and act as one to make the international event a success.

“What was the startling point that I was sharing with them is that we will all be one because this is not just an event for the city or the province but this is for the whole country. The dimension will definitely not only cover religion, but also culture and even tourism,” he said.

“We cannot just be insisting on the separation of the state and the church but we should think about being one that we all are concerned citizens, bringing our responsibility not just as thinker but also as doer… because the element of oneness and togetherness as I look at it will be the key for IEC activities to become successful,” he added.

Rama said that the stakeholders for the IEC are expected to have another meeting to tackle on traffic, peace and order, among others.

The mayor has ordered the creation of a “shadow cabinet” to oversee the preparations for the event.

Rama said he will have a separate meeting with the non-government organizations, Cebu City Interfaith Cooperation Circle, Hotel Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, and the Cebu City Tourism Commission.

Meanwhile, around 300 policemen are needed to secure the main venue for the 51st IEC in Barangay Mabolo.

Chief Inspector David Señor, chief of Police Community Relations-Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said he already conducted inspection of the IEC pavilion yesterday to start planning out the deployment of security personnel.

“Ang pinaka-concern man gud ani, amo man gyud ni nga area. Halos tanan nga activity sa IEC diri sa Cebu City,” Señor said.

Señor said that aside from the activity area inside the pavilion, police personnel will also be deployed at the parking area, at the balcony including the building next to the pavilion that has the chapel and rooms.

He said they have to keep track of any lawless elements that might get inside the venue since the pavilion, which sits on a 2.5-hectare lot inside the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos compound along Pope John Paul II Avenue in Barangay Mabolo, is located next to a squatter area and is surrounded with a very low perimeter fence.

“Gi-plot namo ang 200, murag di kaigo kay dapat 24-hours naa’y pulis kay dunay area sa likod nga di pwedeng biyaan kay mubo kaayo ang kural unya squatters area ang likod,” said Señor. — (FREEMAN)