Sunshine, materials needed for Calungsod Mass site

WORKERS assigned at the venue for the national Thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod need at least five days of sunshine to finish their job, organizers said yesterday.

The site has not been compacted as scheduled days ago and the delivery of filling materials is delayed because of the bad weather said Fr. Raul Gallego, chairman of the committee on venue.

He said they are trying to beat the deadline for the scope of works on the second week of November.

Gallego said the organizers are asking the new saint’s intercession to make the event a success.

The Cebu Archdiocese expects millions of pilgrims to attend the Thanksgiving celebration on November 30.

The contractor started installing the flooring in the interior service roads in the site.

But most of the seven-hectare property is not yet compacted.

Some portions of the entire property especially in the area near the templete will be paved.

Gallego said a representative from the Cebu City government told them that the city will shoulder the expense for the materials of the paving of one of the roads worth P4 million.

But he said they were told two weeks ago that the City Council didn’t approve it since there was no budget for it.

“We decided to ask SM to take care of it. But their commitment is up to the filling up, preparation and compaction. It will no longer be paved,” Gallego said.

The area where the city government was supposed to pave is where carrozas from different parishes in the Archdiocese will be placed after the foot procession.

Despite this, Gallego said the site development is 70 percent complete.

The whole area will be divided and each vicareal district of the Archdiocese has an assigned area on where to stay in the whole duration of the event.

Architect Melva Java said signages will be in place to guide the pilgrims.

Gallego also advised the pilgrims who have vehicles to have them registered in their respective parishes to get a vehicle pass.

Only those with passes will be allocated parking slots which are limited to 10,000.

For those who with no vehicles, they can also arrange for transportation with the parish provided they pay for the fare.

At least 5,000 people will be deployed to secure the venue and will be on their posts starting November 26.

Asst. Director Joy Tumulak of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) said about 252 personnel will be fielded as parking attendants and traffic enforcers.