During Major Sinulog events: Cell site shutdown

CEBU, Philippines - It's final; there will be no cellular phone signal in some areas of Cebu during three major activities of the Sinulog celebration. This after the National Telecommunications Commission approved the shutting down of cell sites along the routes of the solemn procession, fluvial procession, and Sinulog Grand Parade during a meeting with stakeholders including Cebu City and PNP officials.

Councilor Dave Tumulak asked locals and tourists to understand that what they are doing is for their own security.

He said on Saturday and Sunday the necessary cell sites will be shut down, although the times when they will be down will not be announced for security reasons. As of yesterday a technical survey was conducted to determine what cell sites to shut down.

Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, Police Regional Office-7 director, said the signal will be restored immediately after the conclusion of each event.

It was PRO-7 that requested the NTC for the temporary shutdown of cellphone signals covering the critical areas to ensure security during the three events where thousands of devotees and spectators are expected to attend. The request was endorsed by the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Mike Dino to the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

In his reply to Dino's letter, Secretary Rodolfo Salalima instructed NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba and deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios to coordinate with Taliño immediately and "comply where public safety is or may be compromised."

Dino asked the public to bear with the temporary signal shutdown to ensure safety of these areas.

"There is no point in objecting to the plan of the PNP to impose signal shutdown during the two days in the Basilica area and the uptown area for the Sinulog grand parade. We could not maximize use of our cellphone during those events because of signal congestion," he said, adding people can still take pictures and post them later on social media after the signal normalizes.

In a press statement, Globe Telecom said it will comply with the NTC directive.

Froilan Castelo, general counsel of Globe Telecom said that the company will always abide with any government request pertaining to public safety and security.

"We are appealing to our customers for understanding when we temporarily turn-off mobile services including voice, SMS, and mobile data connection as this is all part of security measures adopted by government authorities for the event. We are one with the government in having Cebuanos celebrate a peaceful Pit Senyor," Castelo added.

Castelo said that Globe will issue advisories to its affected customers for the details of the NTC order within the affected areas.

He added that telecom operators usually receive directives to temporarily shut down mobile signals in large events, such as Feast of the Black Nazarene early this week and Pope Francis' visit in early 2015, to enhance security of participants.

Not affected

Meanwhile, the emergency response operations of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will not be hampered even if cell sites are shut down within Cebu City, according to a Capitol official.

PDRRMO spokesman Julius Regner said they will use battery-powered hand-held radios during the Sinulog celebration. Rescue personnel and emergency response teams usually rely on their own communication equipment to keep in touch.

"It will not affect our operations as there are other ways to respond to emergencies," he said.

Tumulak also made the same assurance for city emergency response teams.

The province will deploy over 100 medical and emergency responders to help the Cebu City government respond to any eventualities during the Sinulog.

The provincial emergency responders' deployment starts on Saturday for the fluvial procession until the grand parade the following day.

The Capitol's 12 medical personnel will also be fielded during the grand parade.

Regner said the responders will stay at the four stations of the grand parade route, namely Mango Avenue, outside eMall along N. Bacalso Avenue, New Imus Road corner Sikatuna Street, and outside the Cebu City Sports Center.

Regner urged the public and Sinulog revelers not to be complacent and be vigilant at all times. — Rowena D. Capistrano, Michael Vencynth H. Braga, and Kristine B. Quintas (FREEMAN)