Sto. Niño fluvial parade to pass through CCLEX down to SRP

CEBU, Philippines — The Augustinian friars of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño and the Philippine Coast Guard have given a go to the Cebu City government’s request to extend the fluvial procession down to the NuStar area at the South Road Properties passing through the Cebu-Cordova Expressway Link on January 14, 2023.

This was disclosed by City Councilor Philip Zafra, the City Council’s and Sinulog Executive Committee’s chairman on peace and order yesterday.

Zafra said they requested it so that the new venue for Sinulog 2023 will also be blessed.

Aside from that, it is hoped that extending the fluvial procession’s route to the SRP area will now prevent unauthorized bancas from the Pasil area to interrupt the flow of this solemn religious activity.

With this, residents around Pasil, Suba, Sawang Calero, and other coastal barangays will get a glimpse of Sto. Niño without meeting the galleon anymore at the sea.

Zafra said they will be meeting with the concerned barangays to ask for their cooperation as well as register their motorboats with the Maritime Industry Authority and the PCG if they are really interested to join for their own safety.

It was also learned that only the galleon itself will have its turn-around off the SRP.

The total number of allowed boats and bancas to join the fluvial procession is yet to be finalized at the moment together with the other guidelines. — Rowena D. Capistrano, GMR (FREEMAN)