Cell phone signals to be cut off for Sinulog this weekend
Thousands of devotees join the solemn procession around downtown Cebu City on Saturday afternoon, the eve of the feast of the Holy Child Jesus. The procession is part of the Sinulog festivities which will culminate today with a pontifical Mass and a grand parade. Christian Maningo, CDN photo
CEBU CITY—Cebu City residents should expect some interruption in cellular phone signals as the Sinulog festivities reaches its peak on Saturday and Sunday.
Chief Supt.Robert Quenery, police director for Central Visayas, said cellular phone signals would be shut down along and near the routes of the solemn procession on Saturday afternoon and the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday.
He said the shut down on Saturday would run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The solemn procession would start at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino and then head to Osmena Boulevard, General Maxilom Avenue, New Imus Road, M. J. Cuenco Avenue, F. Urdenata Street and P. Burgos Street before going back to the basilica.
The Sinulog Grand Parade would kick off in New Imus Road and then move to General Maxilom Avenue, Osmena Boulevard, R. Landon Street and Cebu City Sports Center, where the contingents will hold their final performance.
In an advisory sent to its subscribers, Globe Telecome said there would be loss of signal affected mobile and Globe at Home LTE and prepaid wifi services in some parts of Cebu City and neighboring areas during the Sinulog activities starting Saturday afternoon.
Like Globe, Smart Telecommunications also issued an advisory to their subscribers about signal interruption in some parts of Cebu City on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
“In the interest of public safety, we are temporarily shutting down mobile phone services of Smart, Sun and TNT in some areas of Cebu City and neighboring areas this (Saturday) afternoon. This is in compliance with the order of the National Telecommunications Commission at the request of the Philippine National Police,” the statement said.
“We will restore our mobile phone services once we receive the go-signal from the authorities,” it added.
“Signal will be restored upon the go-signal from the NTC,” it said.
