Cebu mayor: Stop signal jamming on Sto. Niño feast

DANCE FOR CHILD JESUS Dancers perform in the streets of Cebu City during the Sinulog Grand Parade in January 2020, the last in-person staging of the religious and cultural festival before the coronavirus pandemic was declared two months later. The rituals in honor of Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu is a demonstration of Cebuanos’ deep faith. —PHOTO COURTESY OF CEBU DAILY NEWS

CEBU CITY—Mayor Michael Rama said he wanted devotees and spectators to relish the return of the in-person celebration of the feast of Sto. Niño de Cebu and would block any move to temporarily cut off telecommunication services for this weekend’s event.

“In the spirit of the festivity, and the spirit of connectivity, there can be no signal shutdown,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

Rama, who said he was not consulted about the signal shutdown, believed that communication during the Sinulog was important since it would be difficult for people to find their companions, especially considering the presence of a large crowd.

“I have been making a statement before, let us not get into Jurassic (period) like we are being primitive. Communication is very important. Disconnection should always be frowned upon, so let us not think about [signal] jamming,” he said.

‘Proactive measure’

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) recently approved the request of the Central Visayas regional police to shut down cellular phone signals in certain times during the weekend to secure at least a million people expected to join the fluvial and foot processions in honor of the Sto. Niño de Cebu on Jan. 14, and the Sinulog Grand Parade on Jan. 15.

According to Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis, regional police director, the request of signal jamming was a “proactive measure” of the police to ensure a safe, orderly and peaceful celebration of the feast of Sto. Niño.

Amid the confusion, Bearis said it would be up to the local government if the signal shutdown for this year’s Sinulog would push through.

“We will also seek the guidance of Cebu City [officials] for their recommendation. And whatever is the recommendation of our honorable mayor, we will abide so we can have a very nice celebration of the Sinulog Festival,” he said.

NTC Regional Director Sophia Lynn Lumantod said her agency would wait for the final decision of the Central Visayas police and the city government on the signal shutdown.

In a memorandum dated Jan. 6, NTC officer in charge Ella Blanca Lopez approved the jamming of network signals on certain periods in Cebu.

Under the memorandum, the signal shutdown will be from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Jan. 14 when the image of the Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe, on board a vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard, will sail down the Mactan Channel for the fluvial procession. The signal shutdown covers the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

The blocking of phone signals will resume at noon until 8 p.m., also on Jan. 14, in Cebu City where the foot procession will be held.

On Jan. 15, the signal shutdown during the Sinulog Grand Parade will be from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. at South Road Properties and Cebu City’s downtown area.

Phone signals were shut down during the feast of the child Jesus in Cebu City from 2017 to 2020. In 2021 and 2022, no in-person religious and cultural activities were held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.