Vessels joining Sinulog fluvial parade down to 55

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The number of vessels joining the Sinulog fluvial parade on Saturday is down to 55 from 189 last year.

Capt. Rolando Punzalan, Coast Guard-Cebu head, attributed this to the failure of a number of vessels to secure a certification of sea-worthiness from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the main requirement for inclusion in the fluvial parade.

The fluvial parade will start at 6 a.m. at the Ouano wharf on Saturday, en route to Pier 1.

Meanwhile, President Aquino, who was in Cebu yesterday, did not categorically say if he would attend the Sinulog’s culminating activities on Sunday.

Aquino said he has not received any invitation, adding though there could be one sent to Malacañang but could be in the heap of thousands of correspondences forwarded to the Palace every month.

Last year, 189 vessels registered for the fluvial procession but on the day itself, some 400 vessels took part, as unregistered ones joined in the tail end of the parade.

“Last year we tolerated those vessels but this year, as much as possible, we will avoid the same scenario to happen for safety and security reasons,” Punzalan said.

“We will deploy personnel at the rear end of the fluvial parade to document if there are unregistered vessels and once they are identified, we will issue an apprehension report and a maritime violation receipt,” Punzalan added.

Commendation

For the first time, the owners of participating vessels that will observe safety guidelines, will get a certificate of commendation from the Basilica del Sto. Niño signed by its new rector, Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA.

“So what will happen this year is a combination of rewards and penalties. We will consider giving apprehension reports for appropriate penalties because not following the safety guidelines is one of the reasons for accidents,” Punzalan said.

Last year, he recalled that a small banca with children paddling it was hit by another motorized banca. The children jumped into the water and were safely recovered by another banca.

The fluvial parade is a reenactment of the arrival of Magellan’s galleon “at the mouth of the cove of Cebu called Mandaue at noon of April 7, 1521” bringing the image of the Sto. Niño to Cebu.

The fluvial parade, a religious-civic celebration, started in the early 1980s with performers portraying Queen Juana and King Humabon. It has become one of the highlights of the annual Sinulog Festival.

Despite small incidents, Punzalan said last year’s fluvial parade was satisfactory and that with proper safety guidelines enforced this year, they hope to have a secure and safe fluvial procession on Saturday.

Registered and accredited vessels must assemble at a designated area near the Mandaue Ouano wharf starting at 5 a.m. Saturday and their officers are enjoined to strictly abide by the Coast Guard rules and regulations to avoid any mishap.

The Mactan Channel will be closed from 4 to 9 a.m. Saturday for the fluvial parade. – With Mitchelle Palaubsanon/Freeman News Service