By Calvin Cordova
CEBU CITY—There will be no cell phone signal in some parts of Metro Cebu during the solemn procession Saturday and the Grand Parade on Sunday of the Sinulog Festival.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved the request of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) to cut off all network services during those key activities.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba announced that there will be no cell phone signal while the fluvial procession is ongoing from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Aside from the signal shutdown, authorities will also close the Mactan Channel starting at 4 a.m.
A total of 179 vessels have registered for the fluvial procession.
Mobile network services will be restored after the fluvial parade but will be cut off again from 12 noon to 8 p.m. for a solemn procession.
On Sunday, cell phone signal will be shut down as early as 3 a.m. and will last until 7 p.m.
Sinulog revelers are advised to be extra patient as security will be tight with President Rodrigo Duterte attending the Grand Showdown at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Police will be deploying at least 5,000 policemen to secure the event.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairperson of the executive committee of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI), spearheaded the Contingents’ Meeting yesterday morning.
Tumulak said the carrying of backpacks would prohibited as the Security Group (PSG) will only allow spectators to bring disposable kitchen utensils and clear plastic water bottles at the sports center.
Tumulak said 91 contingents will compete in the different categories of the Grand Showdown.