A Devotee City for out-of-town pilgrims will once again rise at the Compania Maritima in the Cebu International Port for the Sinulog.
One hundred ten empty 20-foot cargo vans were set up starting last Jan. 5 in a 2,000-sqm lot near the South Road Properties (SRP) exit.
The temporary quarters will be opened on Jan. 13, Friday. However, devotees who’ll be coming to the city early will be allowed to stay.
A hundred vans will accommodate devotees from the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as those in Cebu’s outskirts beyond Carcar and Danao cities.
The remaining 10 vans will house night dwellers in the city.
“We don’t want them to just be sleeping on the sidewalks,” said Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, Devotee City committee chairman.
“The accommodation may not be of five-star quality, but at least these devotees will be decently housed.”
Organizers expect around 3,000 devotees to use the Devotee City when they flock to Cebu City for the feast of the Sto. Niño and Sinulog festivities, about 10 percent more than last year’s number.
The makeshift dormitories will have potable water, electric power, portable toilets and shower rooms, kitchens and a dining area.
The whole area will have free Wi-Fi powered by the Philippine Long Distance Corp. (PLDT) and an Internet protocol (IP) camera to monitor activities in the shelter, which can be watched live through the Cebu city government’s website.
Devotees who seek accommodations must present a valid ID or residence certificate (cedula) and their boat or bus tickets upon arriving.
After filling up registration forms, they will be assigned a van number and given an ID card.
A van can accommodate three to four families, said Cabarrubias.
A fence around the area and 24-hour security guards will ensure occupants are safe.
The Devotee City started in 2006 to serve the needs of devotees from far-flung areas who don’t have relatives in the city or who can’t afford to stay in pension houses or hotels.
After the Sinulog ends, the vans are pulled out.